Church Threat Suspect Held at Gunpoint After Phone Ping Mix-Up

Portsmouth police helped track down a Hocking County man accused of threatening to harm himself and shoot up a church. Hocking County 911 contacted Portsmouth police and asked officers to check the welfare of Dawson Danner after he allegedly made threats to wreck his vehicle, jump in front of a moving vehicle, or shoot up a church in Hocking County. Hocking County told Portsmouth officers they had pinged Danner’s phone near the Subway on Gallia Street. They also advised they had a warrant in hand and would send a copy. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate Danner or the vehicle at first. Hocking County also told police that Danner’s Facebook showed a possible girlfriend who may live near the Subway area. Portsmouth officers attempted to find an address for her but were unsuccessful. Later, Hocking County reported that Danner had been located and detained in Hocking County. That briefly appeared to end the search. Then came the twist. About two hours later, Hocking County called back and said they did not have Danner after all. A deputy had misidentified the man they detained. The search was back on. The last phone ping showed near the backyard of a Walnut Street address near the railroad tracks. Portsmouth officers continued checking the area and located the vehicle. The search moved through the North Thomas Avenue area toward 25th Street and Dorman. Police eventually stopped Danner at Dorman and Thomas. Officers held him at gunpoint before detaining him. Hocking County asked Portsmouth police to impound Danner’s cell phone as evidence. Ted’s Towing was called, and the vehicle was taken to the Washington Avenue impound lot. Police arrested Danner and booked him into the Scioto County Jail on a charge of making a terroristic threat. The case shows how quickly a threat call can spread across county lines, especially when the allegations involve self-harm, a vehicle, and a possible threat to a church. It also shows the limits of phone pings. A ping can point officers toward a search area, but it does not always mean the person holding the phone is the person police are looking for. In this case, Hocking County first thought Danner had been detained, then realized they had the wrong person. Portsmouth officers kept searching and eventually found the man they were asked to hold. The charge is an allegation. Danner is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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