Deputy’s Notebook: Jan. 1-15, 2018

MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio – 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 from Jan. 1 to Jan. 15, 2018.

On Jan. 1, 2018, Deputies checked out a alarm.
Alarm: Deputy Patterson responded to an alarm at Farmers Bank in Tuppers Plains. Upon his arrival he, along with an employee, checked the bank and could not determine the cause for the alarm activation. No further action required.

Deputies responded to a report on criminal trespass on Jan. 2.
Criminal Trespass: Deputy Hupp is investigating a report of criminal trespass at a residence on Gilkey Ridge. According to the report the home owner heard a noise outside their residence and went outside to see what it was. When they got outside they saw a subject run from behind the house, get inside a vehicle and leave. The suspect has been identified and the investigation continues.
Assist EMS: Received a call from EMS wanting a Deputy to assist them at Arbaugh Road in Tuppers Plains. EMS advised they had a female who had a drunk guy pass out in her vehicle and she needed help assisting him into the residence. Nothing wrong with him just passed out.

Deputies looked into a report of theft on Jan. 3.
911 Hang up: Deputy Patterson responded to a residence on Karr Street in Syracuse after 911 center received a hang up call from the residence. Deputy Patterson made contact with the resident who said everything was okay and did not appear to be in distress.
Theft: Sgt Patterson responded to a request from an equipment rental company in Franklin County who had a piece of equipment stolen from a job site in Franklin Furnace area, and it is believed to be at a job site in Syracuse. Sgt Patterson along with the company representative checked several areas but did not locate the piece of equipment.
Suspicious Male: Deputies responded to Third Street in reference to a caller who advised her dog was barking a lot so she went outside with a flash light to get him. She observed the neighbor chasing a male subject off. The neighbor advised her that the subject had been at his residence at the end of Karr Street. The suspect was wearing a camo jacket, jeans, and had a hood on. The area was patrolled, and subject wasn’t located. A report was taken at the scene.

On Jan. 6, Deputies assisted Middleport Police Department.
Assist Another Agency: Deputies assisted Middleport Police Department with a search warrant at a residence on Mill Street early Saturday morning. After assisting with securing the scene and transporting prisoners, the deputies were released by Chief Swift. No further action was taken by deputies on this incident.

On Jan. 7, another agency was assisted by deputies.
Assist Another Agency: Deputy Stewart responded to a domestic call at Colonial Apartments in Pomeroy with Pomeroy Police Department officers. After the scene was secured Deputy Stewart transported a male prisoner to the Pomeroy Police station while their officer completed his investigation at the scene.

On Jan. 8, a possible school threat among other things were investigated.
Theft: Deputy Patterson is investigating a report of a riding lawn mower being stolen from a residence on State Route 684 in Harrisonville. If anyone has any information on this incident, call 740-992-3371.
Misc: Deputies served two court papers and registered one sex offender.
Possible School Threat: Dispatch received a call from a subject in Middleport advising he had received a screen shot photo on his cell phone showing several guns and a message stating “Loaded up and heading out, don’t go to MHS tomorrow”. Middleport officers and deputies went to the home and spoke with the caller. He had received the message from a friend that had seen it on Facebook and she had sent it to him. It was determined that she lived on Swick Road. A deputy went to the residence and spoke with the female and her parents. The juvenile female advised she had seen it on Facebook and sent it to him, so he would not go to school. She also advised the post had now been removed by Facebook and it could no longer be seen. She did not know who the male was whose name appeared on the post, but did know a female that had posted a comment on the original post. She was advised in the future not to resend anything like that again, just screen shot it, call the police or the school and let them handle it. Deputies then went to the address of the female in Rutland that had commented on the post. She advised that she had done a little research and found out that the threat was made against a school in Virginia. Her comment was just saying that, so people would know that it was not Meigs High School and would stop spreading it around. Dispatch was advised of the Deputy’s findings. The dispatchers from the Meigs County Sheriff Office and Middleport Police Department did some on-line research and advised that was correct. The threat was against Monticello High School in Charlottesville, Virginia and the police there already had the suspect in custody. Also, the photo shown in the news story was the same photo that was being circulated on Facebook. Sheriff Wood was advised of the incident and he contacted the Meigs Superintendent Scot Gheen in case he started receiving calls. No further action was taken on this call.

A disturbance and suspicious deaths were investigated on Jan. 9.
Disturbance: Dispatch received a call from an anonymous caller complaining about people yelling and arguing in Brown’s Trailer Court. A deputy was dispatched and located the disturbance. Contact was made with the subjects who advised they were arguing because the male was unable to find the equipment he needed to leave for work. They were advised to keep the noise down. No further action was taken on this call.
Suspicious Death: Deputies responded to a suspicious death on New Lima Road. News story already published on this, click for more information here.

On Jan. 10, another theft was investigated.
Theft/Forgery: Sgt Patterson is investigating the theft and forgery of checks from a resident on Vance Road. The victim reported being contacted by the bank about some suspicious checks being cashed on his account. After speaking with the bank and getting copies of the checks, it was determined the checks were stolen from his residence and taken to a bank in Athens and cashed. Suspects have been identified and charges will be filed.
Serve Papers: Deputies attempted 7 papers (summons).

Papers were served and a suspicious vehicle investigated on Jan. 11.
Misc: Deputies served court papers and registered one sex offender.
Suspicious Vehicle: Deputy Stewart and Deputy Campbell responded to Jeffers Construction behind Alligator Jacks in reference to a suspicious vehicle. On their arrival they spoke with the owners who stated they were having problems with their sewer and the individuals were there to fix it. No further action was taken.

On Jan. 12, an accident was investigated.
Auto Accident: Deputies handled a one car roll over on State Route 33. Four occupants were transported to Holzer ER Pomeroy. Report taken.
Misc: Deputies attempted to serve four papers.

Deputies patrol during snow storm on Jan. 13.
Snow Storm: The county experienced a significant snow and ice event through the night and into the morning, Deputies spent the night patrolling and checking road conditions and assisting motorist having trouble in the storm. One citation was issued for Reckless Operation (driving under a level 3 snow emergency), to the driver of a vehicle that had slid off the roadway on State Route 7 near the Gallia County line.

Deputies advise of high water on Jan. 14.
High Water: Dispatch was called and advised of high water over the road on State Route124 near Wells Run Rd. While patrolling the area to check the call a deputy found that the water was also over the road on State Route at the Forked Run State Park Spillway. ODOT was contacted and sent a crew to post high water signs.

On Jan. 15, deputies respond to a domestic call and report of a prowler.
Domestic: Dispatch received a call of a domestic at Hiland Road. Deputies arrived at the scene and spoke with both the caller and the victim, a juvenile. They advised that the suspect Jeremy Barnette, 40, of Pomeroy had gotten mad because the gas station was closed, and he could not get any beer. The suspect started tearing things up in the house, he then started throwing the laundry out into the yard. One of his daughters went out into the snow to pick it up and he shoved her, knocking her down into the snow, and then left the scene. While deputies were taking the report, Jeremy returned to the scene and was arrested without incident for Domestic Violence. He was transported to the Meigs County Jail where he is being held until his appearance in court.
Prowler: Dispatch received a call of a prowler on State Route near Ball Run Road. A deputy arrived at the residence and spoke with the caller. He checked the area where they said they had seen the suspect. Footprints were found in the snow and tracked over to the neighbor’s house, where it could be seen in the snow that the suspect had walked around their buildings and cars, and then down the driveway to the blacktop road where the deputy lost the track. The caller and neighbor were advised of the deputy’s findings and advised to call the office if they found anything missing when they checked in the morning. He patrolled the area, and no one was located, and no further footprints were found.
Snow: As snow moved into the area yet again this morning deputies spent the shift on patrol checking road conditions and conducting security checks.