One of the three men involved in the death of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis in March of 2022 agreed to a plea deal with the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office.

Zachary Love changed his plea to guilty on three felony counts in the indictment and two other counts were dismissed.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, having a weapon under disability, and improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle.

He faces a maximum of 7 ½ years in prison. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 24^th.

Love was a passenger in the car that struck and killed Officer Francis on I-75 in Bluffton on March 31^st of 2022.

Another passenger, Dante Tate, pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced.

Court records show the man police believe was driving the car, Emin Johnson, has a trial date set for April 24^th in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

He’s facing charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter, among others.

Authorities say the three were in a stolen car that was fleeing from police on Interstate 75 southbound around 2:30 a.m. on March 31^st 2022 that struck and killed Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis, who was placing stop sticks on the highway in an effort to end the pursuit.