Felon arrested after 3 years on the run; Summit County Sheriff’s Office told deputies not to alert media after escape

SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - A felon with a violent criminal history is behind bars tonight after being on the run for over three years.

Last year, 19 investigates exposed how the Summit County Sheriff’s Office failed to notify you when this man escaped.

Preston Eugene Hill, 43, has a long and violent rap sheet that dates back over 20 years.

19 Investigates found that not only did Summit County officials fail to notify the public when he escaped, they instructed deputies not to notify the media about it.

However, on Tuesday, U.S Marshals finally tracked Hill down.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force reports Hill was arrested at a home in the 700 block of Patterson Avenue around Dan Street in Akron.

Hill has been at large for 3 years and 3 months.

In April 2022 a judge granted him a one-day furlough to attend a relative’s funeral, but Hill never returned to jail.

At the time, Hill had been indicted for trafficking fentanyl and several violent offenses including assault, domestic violence, aggravated menacing and weapons charges.

Hill also has prior drug convictions that include trafficking heroin.

19 Investigates found the Summit County Sheriff’s Office failed to alert the public about Hill’s escape at any point during the three years he was on the run.

Last fall, 19 Investigates uncovered information about several inmates who escaped custody in Summit County in 2024.

However, the sheriff’s office never notified you — or local law enforcement — despite state laws requiring them to do so.

In fact, 19 Investigates obtained text messages from April 2022 showing a sheriff’s official instructed a deputy on the fugitive task force not to publicize Hill’s escape.

The text read, “Can you let them know absolutely no press release on this one though please.”

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office won’t comment on why that text was sent to deputies.

Ohio State Highway Patrol officials confirm they were not notified of any of Summit County’s prisoner escapes in 2024, nor of Hill’s in 2022.

Hill is currently being held at the Summit County Jail on numerous felony charges, including escape.

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