15 busted in Gallia County warrant sweep
The Gallia County Sheriff decided it was time to do a little cleaning ahead of spring, so his department joined forces with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Rio Grande Police Department, Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force, and the United States Marshals “SOFAST” Taskforce to conduct a warrant sweep on February 26.
Sheriff Matt Champlin says the spent the afternoon and evening of last Wednesday focusing on finding those with active arrest warrants and taking them into custody.
In addition to law enforcement officers, Champlin says local court personnel stepped up to put in extra time to assist. “A special thanks goes out to Gallipolis Municipal Judge Eric Mulford, Gallia County Common Pleas Court Judge Margaret Evans, Prosecuting Attorney Jason Holdren, Gallipolis City Solicitor Brynn Noe and Gallia County Clerk of Courts Noreen Saunders, along with their staffs, who operated extended hours during the operation to assist in processing of arrestees.”
In all, they arrested 15 fugitives. In addition to picking up folks for past crimes, officers discovered some new cases – three new felony drug crimes. They seized a whole bunch of meth and discovered an indoor marijuana grow operation in Springfield Township. Eighty-four plants were seized.
Champlin said, “This is the type of continued team effort by our criminal justice community that is paying dividends for our citizens. We will not stop in our efforts to seek out and hold accountable the individuals who commit crimes against our hard-working citizens or for those who continue to peddle their poisons within our communities.”
Taken into custody during this operation were:
Eugene Johnson III for Resisting Arrest
Russell L. Sowards for Tampering with Evidence
Nathan S. Halley for Violation of Probation and Failure to Appear
Russell Reiber for Failure to Appear and Possession of Drugs
Samantha D. Bonecutter for Petty Theft and Driving Under Suspension
Ruby DeBoard for Probation Violation and (2) Failure to Appear
Tara N. Holland for Drug Abuse
Keith A. Hawley for Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Trafficking in Drugs
Derek T. Oxyer for Failure to Appear
Amanda Honaker for Possession of Drugs
Charles D. Fisher for Aggravated Possession of Drugs and (2) Violation of Probation
Jessica Luther for Menacing
Johnnie L. Williams for Aggravated Possession of Drugs
George W. Taylor for Failure to Appear
Shannon T. Henderson for Adult Parole Holder
