A Scioto County man accused of gunning down a sheriff’s deputy and sparking a massive manhunt is now facing a supersized stack of felony charges. The Scioto County Grand Jury has returned a new indictment against 39-year-old Michael Bishop, accusing him of attempted aggravated murder and a long list of other violent crimes after a dramatic standoff that ended in a public bathroom.
Back in September, Deputy Ben Vance was responding to a report that Bishop had made threats during a video call. But when Vance arrived at the Liberty Avenue home to check things out, Bishop allegedly opened fire without warning, wounding the deputy.
Despite his injuries, Deputy Vance managed to call for backup, and within minutes, police and emergency crews from across the county swarmed the area. Witnesses told deputies that Bishop bolted out the back, kicking off a frantic manhunt.
Portsmouth SWAT used drones to sweep the house before sending in a team to clear it. Meanwhile, investigators discovered that Bishop had been contacting people to help him escape and planned to rendezvous at the Dogwood Ridge ball fields.
Officers spotted a figure lurking in the tree line, trying to blend into the shadows. A quick sweep of the area revealed Bishop hiding in a bathroom, where a negotiator talked him into giving up peacefully.
Deputy Vance was flown to a Columbus hospital and later released but still faces more procedures to recover from his injuries.
The grand jury returned charges including:
- Attempted Aggravated Murder
- Attempted Murder
- Felonious Assault
- Having Weapons Under Disability
- Discharge of a Firearm on or Near Prohibited Premises
- Inducing Panic (2 counts)
- Obstructing Official Business
- Tampering with Evidence
This latest indictment supersedes the original charges filed back in September. Since then, Bishop’s case has bounced through the court system with hearings on indigency and mental competency—the latter ruling him fit to stand trial.
Bishop is due back in Scioto County Common Pleas Court for arraignment on May 30.
Read the original report: Manhunt After Portsmouth Man Shoots Deputy
