The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released the following reports Feb. 11-28:

Feb. 4

¯ A deputy began investigations in Fairfield Township and Pioneer Township for three different dog bites.

Feb. 6

¯ A deputy began a burglary investigation in Decatur Township.

Feb. 8

¯ A jail lieutenant was made aware of a sprinkler head allegedly broken in one of the dorms, by Dance D. Grahame, an inmate. Officers determined there was not a fire and then determined Grahame intentionally broke a sprinkler head in the shower. This activated the jail sprinkler and fire alarms causing a disruption in the daily jail operations. Charges of vandalism and inducing panic are being filed on Dance Dale Grahame, 23, 231 Sheldon Ave., Marietta.

Feb. 9

¯ A deputy and a sergeant responded to Barclay Street in Belpre, in reference to an alleged assault by Robert Hugh Staats. The offense took place on Beach Drive, Belpre Township. Staats had been in an argument with the victim, which turned physical with Staats reportedly striking the victim on the head with a closed fist and in the face with his elbow. Robert Hugh Staats, 44, 2800 Beach Drive, Belpre, was placed under arrest and transported to the Washington County Jail for processing on a charge of domestic violence.

Feb. 10

¯ Two deputies attempted to serve a felony warrant on a resident of 667 Goose Run Road. Contact was made with Jack Longfellow, who was advised that officers were there to serve three felony warrants on Velinda Mantz. Longfellow advised deputies that Mantz was not at the residence and he did not know where she was or where she was staying. A consent to search the home was given by Longfellow. Prior to contact with Longfellow, Deputy Welch was able to hear a male and female talking. Mantz was eventually located hiding in a bedroom closet. Jack W. Longfellow, 50, 667 Goose Run Road, Marietta, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into a dog biting an individual in Dunham Township.

Feb. 11

¯ A deputy initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of U.S. 50 and Ohio 555, Belpre Township, due to a traffic violation. The driver continued to drive for a period of time before finally coming to a stop on the side of the roadway. The passenger could be seen moving erratically inside the vehicle during that time. The deputy approached the driver, Ryan Dye, and asked for his driver’s license. Dye advised he did not have it and handed the deputy an ID. A check of the West Virginia ID revealed his license was expired. The registered owner of the vehicle, the passenger, gave consent to search the vehicle. The search revealed a cigarette pack with a baggie of a white crystal substance, which Dye reportedly admitted was methamphetamine, and a metal case with a short straw, resembling paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine use. Ryan Adam Dye, 40, 35 Aqua Circle, Parkersburg, was arrested on a charge of possession of meth.

¯ A deputy was dispatched to Ohio 26, Marietta Township, to a neighbor dispute. It was believed that a solar light had been shot out by a neighbor. Examination of the light revealed an entry and exit in the glass. A witness to the incident reported this to the homeowner, also reporting the subject leaving the area with an air rifle. Deputies spoke with Eric Dunn who stated he threw a rock at the light. A summons was to be requested for Eric Charles Dunn, 64, Marietta, on a charge of criminal damaging through Marietta Municipal Court.

Feb. 12

¯ A deputy requested a summons for Jessica Marie Ruble, 38, Vienna, and James Ryan Andrews, 40, Little Hocking, on a charge of disorderly conduct/fighting. On Feb. 9, the deputy and a sergeant were dispatched to the area of Ohio 339 in Barlow Township to a passerby/motorist observing a male and female in what appeared to be a physical altercation in a vehicle. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle near Barrett South Road and questioned the driver, James Andrews. Andrews stated he and Jessica Ruble were fighting in the vehicle on the roadway but Ruble was no longer at the residence. The deputy spoke with Ruble, who stated she asked Andrews to take her home but he refused. She said a small physical altercation ensued inside the car. Ruble agreed to meet the deputy after a scheduled appointment but failed to contact the deputy for an interview and answer returned calls. Andrews had noticeable minor injuries to his face and informed deputies that Ruble “went off” while they were driving.

¯ A lieutenant on patrol near the intersection of Hocking Road and Newbury Road, Belpre Township, observed a vehicle in the roadway with its hazard lights on. The lieutenant made contact with the driver/registered owner, Sabrina D. Thomas. Thomas was found to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage on/or about her person. She spoke to the lieutenant with somewhat slurred speech, and when asked to exit the vehicle, stated someone was on their way to pick her up. Thomas stated she had stopped because of the deer she had seen and was afraid of hitting one. Thomas exited the vehicle and was unsteady on her feet. A short time later a subject arrived to drive Thomas to her residence, but Thomas reportedly drove off from the location and the lieutenant followed, with emergency lights and siren activated. Thomas stopped approximately half a mile down the road, exited the vehicle and refused to follow commands. When advised she was under arrest, Thomas continued to resist handcuffing. Thomas refused both a field sobriety test and a BAC test at the Marietta Police Department. At the Washington County Jail, she submitted to a PBT with the results being 0.309. Sabrina D. Thomas, 46, 1833 Newbury Road, Little Hocking, was charged with failure to comply with orders of a police officer, driving while under the influence of alcohol/drugs and resisting arrest.

¯ A sergeant began an investigation in Grandview Township of a financial theft.

Feb. 14

¯ A deputy at Salem-Liberty Elementary School observed a vehicle in the southbound lane of Ohio 821 that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 20 mph (school zone). As the vehicle drove past, the deputy activated the radar which read 45 mph. A traffic stop was then conducted on the vehicle bearing Kentucky registration. The driver, Jacob Kelley, acknowledged he was going 45 mph, who said he didn’t realize he was in a school zone.

A citation was issued to Kelley, no age listed, 337 Ward Ave., Bellevue, Kentucky, for speed.

¯ A resident of Muskingum Township arrived at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to report identity fraud. The victim advised a credit card was opened in his name in September of 2022 and he believed Tiffany Besserman was responsible. The victim was able to obtain from debt collectors a phone number, address and email address all connected to the fraudulent account. The phone number, address and email later confirmed to belong to Besserman. Besserman was interviewed in reference to this case and admitted to using the victim’s information to open the credit card and not tell him. Besserman advised she used the card to pay off bills. A warrant was requested through Marietta Municipal Court on a charge of identity fraud for Tiffany Besserman, 41, 25855 Hillside Drive, Quaker City.

Feb. 15

¯ A deputy was dispatched to Fairfield Township to a domestic in progress. The deputy met with Melissa Edsell, who said she was in her mother’s bedroom and her father, Leonard Edsell, came in and was extremely upset with her. Leonard allegedly struck her multiple times over the head and in the face and there was a shoving match. The deputy observed minor redness on Melissa’s face. Leonard stated they were in his wife’s bedroom when there was a fight about his wife and her care. He stated Melissa pushed him down and started yelling at him and he shoved her multiple times. Leonard was asked if he had actually struck Melissa, and he said he did not know and was just shoving back trying to get her off of him. Leonard Edsell, 72, and Melissa Edsell, 44, both of Cutler, were advised they would be summoned into Marietta Municipal Court on a disorderly conduct charge.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into storage buildings being entered in Warren Township.

Feb. 16

¯ A deputy on patrol at approximately 6:02 a.m. near U.S. 50 and Collins Road, Belpre Township, observed a 2008 Chevrolet Impala with a fictitious registration. A traffic stop was conducted, and Christopher Ledger was found to be operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license due to a non-compliance suspension. A citation was issued to Ledger, no age listed, of Coolville, for driving under suspension.

Feb. 18

¯ Two deputies were on patrol on Ohio 7 at Ayer’s Boulevard observed a vehicle driven by Joanne Savage. Confirmation was received that Savage had an expired license. Contact was made and Savage was asked if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle, to which she replied her pipe. K-9 Ivar conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle and indicated on the driver’s side door. Savage was read her Miranda rights, and she advised she had her pipe in a wooden box. In the wooden box along with the glass pipe were a snort straw and 6.64 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Joanne Louise Savage, 41, 150 Camelot Road, Belpre, was arrested on a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of drugs.

Feb. 19

¯ A joint investigation was conducted by agents with the Parkersburg Task Force and detectives with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. A traffic stop was conducted by a Belpre Police Department patrolman on a black Jeep Cherokee. The driver was identified as Jamison Hughes and the front seat passenger, Timothy Copley. After criminal indicators were observed, a detective utilized K-9 Timmy to conduct a free air sniff around the vehicle, giving a positive indication. A probable cause search was conducted, with approximately 564 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 1.5 grams of crack cocaine and $1,400 in U.S. currency were located. As a result, Jamison Leigh Hughes, 38, 13599 Stot Road, Logan, and Timothy Duane Copley, 59, 2581 Pine Marsh Ave., Grove City, were arrested on first-degree felony charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs.

¯ Deputies observed a vehicle bearing Ohio registration almost cause an accident by making an abrupt right turn onto Gantsville Road in Belpre Township. A traffic stop was initiated and the passenger was observed bending over making feverous movements, prior to contact. K-9 Ivar was deployed to conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle and indicated at the driver’s door. Passenger Lacie Faddis was asked to step out of the vehicle, and after a pat down for weapons and a search of her person, deputies located three syringes, foil with residue and a snort straw. After being advised of her Miranda rights, Faddis reportedly said she shoved those items after the traffic stop was initiated. Lacie Lynn Faddis, 29, 805 Hope Drive, Athens, was arrested on a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence.

¯ A deputy requested the Marietta Municipal Court issue a summons to Jhon F.G. Sobrados, 120 Summers Road, Marietta, for failure to restrain a dog and failure to register the dog. On Feb. 13, the deputy received a direct call from an individual in the neighborhood of Summers Road, Warren Township, concerning continuing issues with a white dog running loose. The deputy met with the caller, who advised the dog belonged at 120 Summers Road. Photographs and video were provided of the dog off of the owner’s property. An attempt​ to contact Sobrados met with n​egative results. Later that same date, another video was provided to the deputy, once again showing the dog on another’s property. The deputy met with Sobrados who arrived on scene and secured the dog. As of Feb. 19, the dog had not been registered with the Washington County Auditor’s Office.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into identity fraud in Waterford Township.

¯ A sergeant on patrol on Putnam Street observed a vehicle disregarding the traffic control device showing a red light at Putnam and Fourth streets. After a traffic stop, driver Tiffany Johnston stated she was distracted during verbal communication inside the vehicle. A citation was issued to Johnston, 282 Ridgewood Drive, Marietta, for disobeying a traffic control device.

Feb. 20

¯ A deputy was dispatched to Millgate Road, Muskingum Township, to a report that David Sagle was in the residence after being evicted. The residence was being checked on by the caller, who stated the front window was open and music was coming from inside. The caller knocked on the door, and a male and female walked down the stairs. When asked why they were there, the male advised he was just there to get his tools. Both subjects then ran down the stairs, but it was unsure where they went after that. The caller stated he had turned the furnace down previously, but when he went upstairs the furnace was set at 84 degrees. The caller confirmed the subject was in fact David Slagle. A warrant was requested through Marietta Municipal Court and issued for David Lee Slagle Jr., 43, on a charge of breaking and entering and theft. Slagle was arrested Feb. 21 on the warrant.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into the misuse of a credit card.

¯ A deputy was dispatched around 7:11 p.m. to Main Street, Waterford Township, to a report of a protection order violation. A protection order issued out of Morgan County listed Ivan Perea as the respondent. Perea had arrived at the location of the petitioner and barged into the bedroom of the home. Perea eventually left the residence, where he has never lived. A warrant was requested and issued through Marietta Municipal Court on a charge of burglary and violating a protection order, for Ivan M. Perea, 32, 5530 North Blackburn Road, McConnelsville.

Feb. 21

¯ A deputy began an investigation into a stolen electric scooter in Marietta Township.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into an altercation on a school bus in Barlow Township.

Feb. 22

¯ At approximately 10:18 p.m., a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet Trailblazer bearing Indiana registration near Greene and Fourth streets. The driver failed to stop in front of the stop bar at Greene and Second streets. The driver stated his name was Brian Robins, but eventually admitted he was Dustin Lee Brooks, who had three active warrants. K-9 Ozna was deployed and gave a positive indication. The probable cause search led to multiple drug abuse items being located. When asked, Brooks admitted to all the drug abuse items in the vehicle being his. Dustin Lee Brooks, 38, Terre Haute, Indiana, was placed under arrest on the outstanding warrants, as well as charges of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing official business.

Feb. 23

¯ A deputy began an investigation into a burglary in Warren Township.

Feb. 24

¯ A deputy began an investigation into a theft in Watertown Township.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into a theft in Belpre Township.

¯ A deputy began an investigation into a dog bite complaint in Watertown Township.

¯ A deputy responded to Muskingum Township to a report of James Farley II making threats of harm to another individual. Upon making contact, Farley appeared to be intoxicated. Farley denied making any threats to the individual. It was also reported that Farley had punched the individual several times in the face, as well as using both hands to strangle the subject. James Paul Farley II, age not listed, 135 Brandy Drive, Marietta, was charged with domestic violence and strangulation.

¯ A deputy was dispatched to Muskingum Township following a call with subjects screaming in the background and Jonathan Ward saying there’s no problem. Deputies spoke with subjects who stated Ward was in need of medical attention. The subjects tried by calling 911, when Ward took the phone away from them (twice) preventing them from contacting law enforcement. Jonathan David Ward, 41, 452 Muskingum Drive, Marietta, was arrested on a charge of disrupting public service.