Two Ohio police officers pursued a bright unidentified object across Portage County, reporting unusual speed, maneuverability, and apparent interaction with their patrol vehicles.
During the early morning hours of April 17, 1966, Portage County Sheriff's Deputy Dale Spaur and Deputy Wilbur 'Barney' Neff reported seeing a large glowing object near Ravenna, Ohio. The officers initially believed it might be a stranded aircraft or helicopter and attempted to investigate. As they followed the object through multiple communities, officers from other jurisdictions became involved, including patrolman Wayne Huston. The object was observed for approximately 85 miles while remaining ahead of the police vehicles. The case attracted significant attention and was investigated by Project Blue Book, which eventually suggested the object was likely a misidentified satellite or astronomical object, an explanation disputed by the witnesses.
| Date: | 1966-04-17 |
| Location: | Portage County, Ohio |
| Country: | United States |
| Category: | Law Enforcement Encounter |
| Credibility: | High / Multiple Police Officers |