Man in SUV that killed cop sentenced

A man in the SUV that hit and killed a Bluffton police officer on Interstate 75 in March 2022 was sentenced Monday to 33 months in state prison. Zachary L. Love, 22, of the Columbus area, pleaded guilty in March in Hancock County Common Pleas Court to tampering with evidence and having guns without court permission after a prior offense, both third-degree felonies; and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. Hancock County Common Pleas Judge Reginald Routson imposed the sentence. Love was sentenced to 24 months for tampering with evidence, and nine months each for the other two offenses. The nine-month sentences are to be served concurrently with each other, but consecutive to the 24 months for the tampering with evidence offense. Emin R. Johnson, 21, of Euclid, the driver of the SUV which hit and killed Bluffton officer Dominic Francis, was sentenced in March to 21-26½ years in prison by Judge Routson. Johnson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Francis and to five other offenses. Francis, 42, was trying to stop the stolen SUV by putting stop sticks on I-75 at Bluffton when he was struck by the vehicle. Francis died later from the injuries he suffered. A third man in the stolen SUV was sentenced to 30 months in February after pleading guilty to two felonies. Dante D. Tate, 19, of Euclid, pled guilty to receiving stolen property — a gun — and complicity to receiving stolen property — the SUV — both fourth-degree felonies. He was sentenced by Judge Routson to 15 months in prison on each offense.