The Ross County Grand Jury returned all 17 of their cases Friday, with three open. From the grand jury testimony, according to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office:
Woman Runs for Help from Car to Road Crew
On September 8th, a probation officer of the Chillicothe Municipal Court was overseeing a couple of probationers cleaning litter on State Route 104.
A car skidded to a stop in the middle of the highway behind the work crew. The officer witnessed movement and heard the driver screaming and try to get out of the car.
In the aftermath, the victim said the passenger had pointed a gun at her and struck her on the chin with its butt. She apparently saw the probation officer and stopped to get help.
Officers found a loaded and chambered firearm in the center console of the car.
27-year-old Noah E. Wyke of Columbus was under disability for an April 2023 pending indictment in Chillicothe for a fentanyl-related compound.
For indictments on first degree misdemeanor assault, and two third-degree indictments for having a weapon under disability, he could get up to three and a half years and $11,000 in fines.
Running Away and Tossing Drugs
On July 19th, an Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a driver on Old US 35 for traveling left of center, following too close, and a marked lanes violation.
The trooper noticed the smell of raw marijuana from the vehicle. He got consent to do a pat-down of the driver and felt something hard in the back of the driver’s pants.
As the trooper was reaching for his handcuffs, the driver took off running, and the trooper witnessed him throw something. After he was captured, a baggie of 13.7026 grams of suspected meth was recovered.
No marijuana was found.
For indictments on third-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and tampering with evidence, 28-year-old Kejuan J. Skinner-Byrd of Columbus could get up to three years and $10,000 in fines.
Attempt to Elude While Drunk Leads to Crash
On September 8th, a deputy was dispatched to a residence in reference to a self-inflicted stab wound in the 400 block of Piney Creek.
The victim there said that during a party at their shared residence, her boyfriend had become drunk and argued with her.
He pushed her, took her cell phone and purse, pushed her again, and left to get more alcohol.
The deputy found the boyfriend’s vehicle nearby and activated his lights and siren, but the driver failed to stop, turned onto Charleston Pike, and accelerated. But he failed to negotiate a turn onto Dunkard Hill Road, crashing through a guardrail into a ditch.
It is unclear how the report of a self-inflicted stab wound factors into the incident.
For indictments on third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of an officer, 25-year-old Brian R. Hall of Piney Creek Road could get up to three years and $10,000 in fines.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.