Trumbull County UFO Chase

The Trumbull County UFO chase of 1994 is one of the most dramatic and well-documented police encounters with a UFO in American history. For nearly two hours, officers from multiple Ohio police departments pursued a massive, brilliantly lit object across the sky. The real-time radio communications between officers were recorded, preserving their amazement and confusion as they tried to understand what they were seeing.

December 14, 1994

The incident began in the early morning hours:

Time: The first call came in at approximately 4:30 AM.

Initial Report: Trumbull County 911 received calls about unusual lights in the sky.

First Responders: Police officers were dispatched to investigate.

Duration: The sightings continued for approximately two hours.

Area: The object was tracked across Trumbull, Portage, and Geauga counties.

The Object

Officers described a massive craft:

Size: Enormous - variously described as bigger than a football field or “the size of a house.”

Lights: Brilliant multicolored lights - red, green, blue, and white.

Structure: Officers could see a structured craft, not just lights.

Shape: Most described it as somewhat triangular or V-shaped.

Sound: Generally silent or making only a faint humming noise.

The Police Pursuit

Multiple departments tracked the object:

Trumbull County: Several deputies observed and pursued the object.

Liberty Township: Officers reported the object hovering over their area.

Portage County: Deputies observed the object crossing into their jurisdiction.

Geauga County: The object was tracked into this neighboring county as well.

Coordination: Departments communicated in real-time about the object’s movements.

Sergeant Toby Meloro

One of the primary witnesses:

First on Scene: Meloro was one of the first officers to observe the object.

Description: He described a massive craft with intense, multicolored lights.

Behavior: The object hovered, moved slowly, then accelerated at incredible speed.

Radio Reports: His transmissions were recorded on police dispatch.

Credibility: A seasoned officer with no reason to fabricate.

The Dispatch Recordings

The real-time recordings are remarkable:

Audio Evidence: Police dispatch recorded all communications.

Officer Reactions: The recordings capture genuine surprise and confusion.

Real-Time Observations: Officers described what they were seeing as it happened.

Professional Response: Despite the strangeness, officers remained professional.

Documentation: The tapes have been preserved and released.

The Object’s Behavior

The UFO displayed remarkable characteristics:

Hovering: It could hang motionless in the sky.

Slow Movement: At times it moved very slowly.

Acceleration: It could accelerate to tremendous speeds instantly.

Direction Changes: It made sharp turns that would be impossible for conventional aircraft.

Height Changes: It varied from low altitude to high in moments.

Military Response

Questions arose about military involvement:

Youngstown ARS: Youngstown Air Reserve Station was contacted.

No Military Activity: The base denied having any aircraft in the area.

No Explanations: No military explanation was provided for the object.

Radar: Questions about radar tracking have been raised but not definitively answered.

Witness Consistency

The officers’ accounts were remarkably consistent:

Multiple Departments: Officers who had no communication with each other described the same thing.

Core Details: The size, lights, and behavior were consistently described.

Professional Observers: Police officers are trained observers.

No Coordination: There was no opportunity to coordinate a hoax.

Civilian Witnesses

Police weren’t the only ones who saw it:

911 Calls: Civilian callers reported the lights before police were dispatched.

Following the Chase: Some civilians observed the police pursuit.

Widespread Observation: The object was visible over a large area for an extended time.

Attempted Explanations

Skeptics have offered explanations:

Aircraft: A conventional aircraft with unusual lighting. The maneuvers described rule this out.

Helicopter: A helicopter with special lights. The speed and silence don’t fit.

Weather Phenomenon: An unusual atmospheric effect. The structured appearance argues against this.

Planet or Star: A celestial object misidentified. It moved across multiple counties.

The Documentation

The case is exceptionally well-documented:

Police Reports: Official reports were filed.

Dispatch Tapes: Real-time recordings exist.

Multiple Witnesses: Many officers from different departments.

Civilian Corroboration: Non-police witnesses saw the same thing.

MUFON Investigation: The case was thoroughly investigated by UFO researchers.

Officer Reactions

The recordings reveal genuine reactions:

Amazement: Officers expressed wonder at what they were seeing.

Confusion: They couldn’t understand what it was.

Professionalism: Despite the strangeness, they did their jobs.

Lasting Impact: Some officers were profoundly affected by the experience.

Why It Matters

The Trumbull County case is significant because:

• Multiple trained police observers tracked the object for hours
• Real-time audio recordings document the encounter
• Officers from multiple jurisdictions independently observed the same thing
• The object displayed capabilities beyond known technology
• It remains one of the best-documented police UFO encounters

Legacy

The case represents:

Documentation Standard: An example of how UFO cases should be documented.

Police Credibility: When law enforcement witnesses encounter UFOs, it carries weight.

Audio Evidence: The dispatch recordings provide a rare real-time record.

Unanswered Questions: No satisfactory explanation has ever been provided.

Whatever crossed the skies of northeastern Ohio that December morning was seen by too many professional observers to dismiss. The recorded voices of police officers struggling to understand what they were seeing remain some of the most compelling evidence that something unexplained shares our skies.

Sources

• Police dispatch recordings
• Officer testimonies
• MUFON investigation
• Media coverage
• Trumbull County UFO - Wikipedia