A man with a criminal record stretching back nearly 30 years was found slumped over in a white van outside the Patriot Travel Center in Wheelersburg, prompting a major response from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office — and resulting in yet another arrest to add to his long list of offenses.
Deputies were dispatched after a 911 caller reported an unknown man who had been motionless in the driver’s seat for approximately 90 minutes. But what began as a routine welfare check quickly escalated.
🚔 Drug Bust and Hazmat Scare
Upon arrival, deputies discovered drugs in the vehicle, and took the man — Richard Pennington — into custody. However, during the arrest, one of the deputies reported being exposed to the substances and required emergency backup. An ambulance was called to the scene along with additional units, and the vehicle was impounded.
Pennington was transported to the Scioto County Jail, where he was hit with multiple charges:
- Drug possession
- Drug abuse
- Attempting to convey drugs into a detention facility
He is scheduled to appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court on December 11.
📜 A Look at the Past: Three Decades of Crime
Pennington’s rap sheet reads like a criminal history textbook — starting all the way back in 1996 and covering a staggering range of charges:
- 1996–1998: Assault, domestic violence, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aggravated menacing, burglary, DUI, and more.
- 2003–2007: Burglary, driving under suspension, fugitive from justice, weapons under disability.
- 2010–2011: Multiple OVIs, hit-skip, criminal damaging, and repeated license violations.
- 2015–2018: Multiple felony-level OVIs, failure to control, and suspended license charges.
This latest arrest adds to a pattern of drug-related incidents, making Pennington one of the county’s most consistently arrested individuals over the past 30 years.
🧪 First Responder Risk: Drug Exposure Dangers
Perhaps most alarming, deputies say that accidental exposure to drugs — especially synthetic opioids — is becoming a serious threat to law enforcement. Even trace amounts can be dangerous, and officers are increasingly carrying Narcan and wearing protective gear on routine calls involving suspected narcotics.
In this incident, the exposed deputy was evaluated at the scene. No further medical treatment was needed.
⚠️ What’s Next?
Pennington remains in custody at the Scioto County Jail as of this writing. With a long criminal history and now charges involving attempted jail smuggling, he could be facing significant time if convicted.
His case adds another reminder of the escalating dangers faced by law enforcement, even when responding to what appears to be a simple welfare check.
Stay with us for more updates as this case moves through the legal system.
