Shoppers at a Dollar General were stunned when a man began insisting that someone was coming to murder him. By the time deputies arrived, it was clear the situation wasn’t just paranoia—it was drugs.
The bizarre incident unfolded in Lawrence County, Ohio, when deputies were dispatched to the store after reports of a male acting erratically and making alarming claims.
🕵️ The Encounter
- The man was identified as Charles Cochran Jr.
- He told deputies his boss planned to kill him because he had lied.
- Deputies quickly noticed troubling signs:
- Pinpoint pupils 👁️
- Profuse sweating 💦
- Inability to stand still ⚡
Charles admitted he might be hallucinating. He confessed he’d used meth the day before.
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💼 What Happened Next
- Charles said he wanted help and agreed to be transported for detox.
- Before EMS was called, deputies asked if he had drugs on him.
- Charles handed over a bag of crystal-like substance—methamphetamine.
- Deputies field-tested the bag: 2.7 grams of meth confirmed.
🚔 The Arrest
- Charles was handcuffed and read his Miranda rights.
- He was placed in the patrol car, where he continued talking openly about his drug use.
- Despite being under arrest, he remained cooperative and kept saying he wanted rehabilitation.
- Deputies transported him to jail without incident.
⚠️ Why This Matters
This case is a reminder of how quickly drug use can spiral into public danger:
- Meth-induced paranoia leads to erratic, risky behavior.
- Stores and shoppers are caught in the chaos.
- Law enforcement ends up juggling both public safety and addiction’s toll.
💡 The Bigger Picture
- 🚨 Meth is back on the rise in Ohio, fueling both crime and health crises.
- ❤️ Cases like Charles’ show why treatment access is critical—he admitted he needs help.
- 🛑 Without intervention, these drug-driven emergencies will keep landing on deputies’ doorsteps.
In this case, officers recovered the drugs and made an arrest. But the man’s plea for rehab sends a message: law enforcement isn’t just fighting crime—they’re on the frontlines of the addiction epidemic.