March 29, 2024

(Editor’s note: The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office Deputies respond to all sorts of calls. The notebook is a listing of the public record of those calls. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)

On May 13, 2018 Deputies responded to State Route 7 in Middleport in reference to a burglary. Deputy King processed the scene while Deputy Campbell and Sgt. Stewart checked the suspect’s residence. The case is currently under investigation.

On May 13, Deputy Campbell and Sgt. Stewart responded to South Second Avenue in Middleport to assist the Middleport Police Department with a male that had fled on foot. Upon the deputy’s arrival the Middleport Officer had the suspect in custody and no action was taken by the Sheriff’s Office.

On May 13, Deputy King and Deputy Campbell responded to Crew Road in reference to an assault. deputies arrived on the scene where the parties were already separated. Upon speaking with all parties involved no one wished to file charges and no further action was taken.

On May 13, Sgt. Stewart processed four applications for concealed carry weapons permits and one background check.

On May 18, dayshift deputies served sixteen (16) summons’ to appear, registered one sex offender, and processed several concealed carry weapons applications.

On May 18, Deputy Campbell and Sgt. Stewart responded to Calloway Ridge in reference to a domestic violence complaint. Deputies arrested a male for domestic violence and transported him to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office where he was incarcerated pending his court appearance.

On May 19, Sgt. Stewart issued 12 licenses for concealed carry weapons, processed two new applications for concealed carry weapons and registered two sex offenders.

On May 19, Deputy King, Deputy Campbell and Sgt. Stewart responded to Noble Summit Road in reference to a domestic violence incident. It was determined that no physical violence had taken place and no threats had been made. Both parties remained on the same property but were separated and went to different residences to cool off.

On May 19, Deputy Campbell initiated a traffic stop on SR 124 near the intersection of Bradbury Road. Mark Rathburn, 56 of Middleport was arrested on an indictment out of Meigs County Common Pleas Court. It was discovered by Deputy Campbell and Sgt. Stewart that the suspect had concealed drugs upon initially being pulled over and attempted to hide the drugs in the backseat of the Sheriff’s cruiser. Mark Rathburn was further charged for Tampering with Evidence and Possession of Drugs.

On May 20, Deputy B. King, Deputy Campbell, Deputy T. King, and Sgt. Stewart executed multiple search warrants in the Racine area as part of an investigation into a suspicious death.

On May 24, Sgt. Stewart and Deputy Sizemore responded to Arbor’s in Pomeroy in reference to two suspicious males inside of the building visiting a resident. Deputies arrived on scene and found one of the males to be in possession of a controlled substance. The male was charged through Meigs County Court and subjects were removed from the property.

On May 24, Sgt. Stewart investigated a breaking and entering along with a theft from Foxs Pizza in Rutland. One suspect has been taken into custody while the other is currently being sought after by law enforcement.

On May 24, Deputy King, Deputy Campbell, Sgt. Stewart and the Meigs County Common Pleas Probation went to Whites Hill Road in Rutland to do a home visit at Kayla King’s residence who is currently on Probation. When deputies arrived at the residence a male took off running out the backdoor of the trailer. Deputies took Michael King, 27, of Pomeroy into custody on several warrants out of Common Pleas Court and County Court.

On May 25, Deputies responded to Bradbury Road in reference to a male bleeding from his face. The male stated he was assaulted but would not give deputies any information as to who it was. EMS was called to the scene and transported the male to the Holzer Meigs ER.

On May 26, Deputy King, Deputy Campbell, and Sgt. Stewart responded to Peterson Hollow Road in reference to multiple reported incidents at Todd Price’s residence. Deputy King took a report on damage to Todd’s vehicle. The damage to the vehicle was inconsistent with the statement given. Deputy King also served a protection order to Todd as well as conducted a well-being check on Todd’s girlfriend who stated that she was fine and no assistance was needed from deputies. Todd is also the suspect in a criminal mischief case regarding damage to multiple mailboxes by means of a vehicle in the area of New Lima Road.

On May 27, Deputy King, Deputy Campbell, and Sgt. Stewart responded to the area of Page Street at Powell Street in Middleport to take an alleged assault that had occurred in the county but was first discovered in the Village of Middleport. A male was allegedly assaulted in the area of Story’s Run Road however he was not familiar with the two male suspects. The case is currently under investigation.

On May 27, Sheriff Wood, Deputy King, and Sgt. Stewart participated in the Memorial Day Bikers Run.

On May 28, Deputy Elberfeld took a report of a possible burglary on Rocksprings Rd. No suspects have been identified and the incident remains under investigation.

On May 28, Deputies Barnhart and Elberfeld responded to a domestic situation on Arnold Rd. Upon arrival they spoke with the parties involved and determined no physical violence had occurred. One party left the residence for the night.

On May 29, Deputy Barnhart responded to a domestic on Dewitt’s Run Rd involving a juvenile. Deputy Barnhart spoke parties involved and the juvenile was taken into custody and later transported to the juvenile facility in Chillicothe, Ohio.

On May 31, Sgt. Patterson and Deputy Stacy are investigating the theft of several pieces of jewelry from Lurinda Forester. Lurinda reported the jewelry missing from her residence on Bigley Ridge sometime between the first week of May and the date of report. A possible suspect has been identified and the incident remains under investigation.

On May 31, dispatch received a call of a disturbance in Letart on State Route 124. A deputy was dispatched and arrived on scene and spoke with all involved. The argument was between two families. One had driven by the others house allegedly shouting profanities. The other family had allegedly went to the edge of the roadway, yelling at the other as they had passed. The car stopped, and they argued for time then separated. The dispute stems from a conflict on the bus their children had the last few days of school. Both groups were advised to stay away from the other. No further action was taken on this call.

On May 31, Dispatch received a call of a stolen car from an address in Syracuse. A Syracuse officer was on duty and was dispatched to the scene. Syracuse PD handled the incident. The next day the car was recovered on Bigley Ridge in Long Bottom. The suspect, Michael R. Runyon, 30, of Syracuse, allegedly went on to steal 2- ATV’s from the Tuppers Plains area, gas and several miscellaneous items from Reed’s Store and a pick-up truck from the Reedsville area over the next twenty-four hours. Both ATV’s were recovered by Deputies the same day they were stolen. It is believed that Runyon then left Meigs County in the stolen pick-up. Surrounding agencies have been advised of the incidents and are currently looking for the suspect and the stolen pick-up in their jurisdictions. Several Charges have been signed on the suspect and the investigation into other incidents he may have been involved in remain under investigation.

On June 1, Deputy King and Sgt. Stewart responded to a domestic violence complaint on Bigley Ridge. Deputies arrived on scene and found that the suspect had fled the scene. The female victim was not assaulted or threatened by the male and no charges were filed for Domestic Violence however the victim’s grandmother was threatened. Charges were filed on Daniel Murphy for menacing threats and warrant has been issued for his arrest.

On June 1, a subject came in to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office in reference to being assaulted at the 124 Mart during a child custody exchange. The male had a gash on his nose and claimed to have been headbutted. Due to the evidence, charges were filed on the other male for assault.

On June 1, an Athens woman came into the office advising she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Edgel E. Gobel, 28, of Shade, Ohio at his home on State Route 681 in Meigs County. She gave a written statement about the incident and charges were signed on Gobel for the alleged assault.

On June 1, while on patrol a Deputy stopped in at the 124 Mart on State Route 124 and was advised by an employee that her personal cell phone had just been stolen. The security video showed an unknown female pick up the phone off the counter and place it under her jacket. She then purchased a few items and left the store. The next day the suspect returned to the store and was confronted by the victim about taking her phone. She denied taking it. The suspect was in the company of another female that was known to the victim. That female left the store and spoke with the suspect and returned with the stolen phone and returned it to the owner, but the phone had been damaged beyond repair. The identity of the suspect was found out to be Shasta D. Blankenship, 38, of Gallipolis. A charge of theft has been filed on Shasta for the alleged incident.

On June 1, dispatch received a call of a prowler on Hickory Rd. in Tuppers Plains. Deputies responded to the scene and checked the area. No one was found.

On June 2, Sgt. Stewart responded to Ball Run Road in reference to multiple 911 hang-up calls. The Deputy arrived on scene and spoke with the homeowner and juvenile that resided there. It was determined that there was possible mix up with the phone lines and no one was in distress. The call was cleared and no further action was taken.

On June 2, Deputy King was dispatched to Bunker Hill Church Road on a Burglary that had recently occurred. Deputy King processed the scene and collected photographs from surveillance on the property. The case is still pending investigation.

On June 2, Deputies responded to Forest Run Road on a residential burglary alarm. Sgt. Stewart responded to the scene and found the front door to be closed but not latched. The residence was cleared and secured. The homeowner responded to the scene and found that nothing had been taken. The call was cleared, and no further action was taken.

On June 2, dispatch received a call of a prowler on Trouble Creek Rd. Deputies responded to the residence and checked the area. No one was found.

On June 2, dispatch received a call from Gallia County Sheriff’s Office advising that they had a deputy out at a trespassing complaint on Story’s Run Rd. in their county. She has found three suspects and is requesting backup, as the scene is getting heated between the suspects and the victims. Deputies and Middleport officers responded to the scene, assisted in recovering one of the suspects from the woods and stood by with the Gallia County Deputy until another officer from her department arrived on scene.

On June 2, dispatch received a call from a subject on Locust Grove advising he just returned home and it appears as if someone has shot out a window in his garage. A deputy arrived on scene and took a report of the incident. The caller advised that he did not think it was intentional and had heard gun shots in the past from the neighbors on the other side on the tree line that separates their property. After finishing up with the caller the deputy went to several of the homes on the other side of the tree line and advised them of the incident and reminded to insure a proper and safe back drop when shooting.

On June 3, Deputy Campbell and Sgt. Stewart responded to a report of possible Domestic Violence incident on Mile Hill Road. Deputies arrived on scene and determined that two subjects had been verbally arguing and that it was not a domestic violence case.

On June 3, Deputies processed three new applications for concealed carry weapons permits.

On June 3, ispatch received a call on a possible drunk driver on State Route 248. A deputy was dispatched and patrolled the area. The vehicle was not located.

On June 3, dispatch received a call from a male in Racine advising his juvenile daughter was receiving threating text messages from another girl. A deputy responded and took a report of the incident then went to the suspect’s home on Wayde Sayre Rd. spoke with her mother and advised charges will be filed in Juvenile Court about this incident.

On June 7, Deputy King responded to a report of a residential burglary alarm on Owl Hollow Road. Deputy King arrived on the scene and determined it to be a false alarm. Everything was found to be secure and the scene was cleared.

On June 7, Deputy Campbell responded to Shady Cove Road in Middleport on a Burglary. Deputy Campbell processed the scene and a report was taken at the scene. This case is currently under investigation.