The Portage County UFO Chase

In the early morning of April 17, 1966, Deputy Sheriff Dale Spaur and his partner Wilbur Neff began a high-speed chase of a UFO that would extend 85 miles across Ohio into Pennsylvania. Other officers joined the pursuit, making it one of the most dramatic and well-documented police UFO encounters in history.

The Initial Sighting

At approximately 5:00 AM:

• Deputies Spaur and Neff on patrol
• Stopped to investigate abandoned car
• Large, brilliant object rose from woods
• Hovered over them
• Illuminated the area

The Object

They described:

• Approximately 40 feet wide
• Metallic, disc-shaped
• Brilliant light from bottom
• Humming sound
• Rose and moved east

The Chase Begins

The deputies:

• Radioed for instructions
• Were told to follow it
• Began pursuit at high speed
• Reached 100+ mph
• Object stayed ahead

The Pursuit

Over 85 miles:

• Through multiple counties
• Crossed into Pennsylvania
• Other officers joined
• Object maintained distance
• Dawn made it visible

Officer Wayne Huston

In East Palestine, Ohio:

• Heard radio traffic
• Waited at intersection
• Saw object pass over
• Joined the chase
• Confirmed the sighting

Officer Frank Panzanella

In Conway, Pennsylvania:

• At end of chase
• Saw object hover
• Watched it shoot upward
• Lost sight in daylight
• Multiple officers present

The End

Near Conway, PA:

• Object hovered briefly
• Shot straight up
• Disappeared at sunrise
• Officers were exhausted
• Left standing together

Air Force Response

Project Blue Book:

• Investigated the case
• Concluded it was Venus and satellites
• Officers strongly disputed this
• Explanation ridiculed
• Added to Blue Book criticism

Impact on Officers

Aftermath was harsh:

• Spaur’s life fell apart
• Lost job, marriage
• Suffered from experience
• Ridicule took toll
• Died young

The Other Officers

All witnesses:

• Maintained their accounts
• Were experienced lawmen
• Had nothing to gain
• Stood by the truth
• Never recanted

Significance

The Portage County chase is significant for:

• Multiple police witnesses
• Multi-state pursuit
• Documented radio traffic
• Poor Air Force explanation
• Impact on witnesses’ lives

Legacy

The Portage County UFO chase became a symbol of how the UFO phenomenon could affect witnesses’ lives. The dramatic pursuit, the credible officers, and the insulting official explanation exposed the flaws in Project Blue Book’s approach.