Archived 2017 Media Releases

Media Release

At around 10:15PM on the night of September 4, 2017, Deputy Jake Shaw initiated a traffic stop in the City of New Carlisle. During the course of this traffic stop, an unknown male, later discovered to be New Carlisle News reporter Andrew Grimm arrived on the scene and was injured in an officer involved shooting. The investigation into this shooting has been turned over to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations for the State of Ohio. Deputy Shaw has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation and will attend critical incident debriefing. Our hearts and prayers are with Mr. Grimm as he recovers and with Deputy Jake Shaw and we ask the community to keep both of them in your hearts and prayers as well.

Media Release

On 9/6/17 at 0950 hrs the Clark County Sheriff’s Office conducted a narcotic search warrant at 408 1/2 Chestnut Avenue in the City of Springfield. The search warrant was a result of a month and a half long investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit. Investigators discovered inside large amounts of narcotics and cash. Additionally two suspects, Diamond McClanahan and Christy Wilox were taken into custody. Investigators discovered 25.9 ounces of a crystal substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $32,000, 7.2 ounces of a tan powder substance believed to be a cocaine and fentanyl mixture with a street value of approximately $28,800 and approximately 16 ounces of a liquefied substance believed to be an undried form of cocaine fentanyl mixture with a street value of approximately $64,000. Also located within residence was $3500.00 in cash, a small amount of prescription pills, and large amounts of drug paraphernalia. Diamond McClanahan and Christy Wilcox were placed under arrest and transported to the Clark County Jail where they were booked on one count of felony drug possession and one count of trafficking in drugs. They will be arraigned the Springfield Municipal Court on Wednesday, September 7, 2017 at 1030 hrs. This continues to be an ongoing investigation and more charges will be presented to the Clark County Grand Jury in the near future.

Media Release

On the afternoon of Monday, September 18, 2017 the Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Box King, located at 1125 N Bechtle Avenue in reference to a suspicious package that was being mailed out. Investigators responded and upon inspection of the package it was found that 70 tablets of Hydrocodone tablets were hidden inside a children’s toy. The package was destined for an address in Asheville, NC and the return address and name was determined to be falsified. Clark County Sheriff’s Investigators contacted Asheville, NC Police Department and passed the delivery information onto them. Asheville Narcotics Officers were able to positively identify the recipient of the package and he was picked up the this morning in Asheville. The suspect who mailed the package, Jason M Rager, was positively identified with intelligence obtained from Asheville PD. Clark County Detectives made contact with Mr. Rager at his residence and he was placed under arrest for one count of trafficking in drugs and one count of possession of drugs. He was housed in the Clark County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Springfield Municipal Court on 9-20-2017 at 1030 hrs.

Media Release

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has once again received a grant from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office. Enforcement overtime. The Grant is divided into two parts. The Sheriff’s Office will utilize the $71,406.48 to place additional deputies on county roadways to enforce traffic violations and search for impaired drivers. This funding will benefit the citizens of Clark County by contributing to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office continual mission of saving lives by keeping our roadways and residents safe. Sheriff Deborah K. Burchett and the members of the Office would like to thank the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office for their assistance in obtaining this grant funding and their continued support. Any additional questions regarding this release can be directed to Major Andy Reynolds at 937-521-2052.

Media Release

On October 3, 2017, at 11:20 a.m., a Uniform Patrol deputy of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office was traveling on East Main Street in the City of Springfield, when his Automated License Plate Reader activated, alerting him to a possible stolen vehicle that had passed him. The deputy turned around and observed the vehicle directly, confirming that the registration was correct, and that the vehicle he observed was the correct vehicle listed as stolen. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center confirmed the vehicle was stolen through the Springfield Police Division, as it was pulling into the McDonald’s restaurant on E. Main Street. The deputy stopped the vehicle and detained the driver, identified as Jeffrey M. Palmer. Inside the vehicle was evidence connecting Mr. Palmer to the stolen car, as well as a substantial quantity of other evidence connecting him to other incidents of theft. Detectives from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division then responded to the scene.

Further evidence led deputies and detectives to the Townhouse Motor Lodge, also on East Main Street, where they recovered a second vehicle reported stolen through the Springfield Police Division. Mr. Palmer gave consent to search his room at the motel, where further stolen property and evidence of criminal activity was recovered. Additionally, further evidence was obtained regarding a third stolen vehicle, which was subsequently recovered in the campus area of Wittenberg University, as well as the participation of an accomplice to Mr. Palmer, identified as Robert L. Coder. Investigative leads developed by the deputies and detectives, led them to the Ronez Apartments on the northeast side of Springfield, where they located a fourth stolen vehicle.

While conducting surveillance on the vehicle, deputies and detectives observed Mr. Coder and another subject, later identified as a Kurt Miracle, enter the vehicle and begin driving further into Springfield. Patrol and investigative units converged on the stolen car and attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of the McDonald’s Restaurant on East Main Street. During the stop, Mr. Coder, who was driving the stolen car, attempted to flee the traffic stop and rammed a Clark County Sheriff’s Office marked patrol car, occupied by a uniformed deputy. Mr. Coder was unable to successfully flee from the traffic stop and was taken into custody, along with Mr. Miracle, who had an unrelated warrant for his arrest from Madison County. Mr. Miracle was surrendered to Madison County authorities directly, and Mr. Palmer and Mr. Coder were transported to the Clark County Sheriff’s Headquarters, where they were first interviewed and then incarcerated. This case remains under investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to determine the identities of the victims so that their property may be returned to them.

Media Release

On 10-29-17 at 0027 hours deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a wanted subject. The suspect fled deputies leading them on a high speed pursuit which started in the Park Layne Area and ended at RT 571 and I75 in Miami County. The driver, identified as Charles Dean Wiley, has a long and extensive history of running from law enforcement officers and endangering the lives of other drivers on the roadway. The pursuit began at 0027 hours and changed to a foot pursuit after Mr. Wiley crashed the truck he was driving into a ditch. Mr. Wiley then fled through a field before being apprehended by deputies from Clark County, Miami County, Tipp City Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 0044 hours. Mr. Wiley was wanted on several outstanding warrants for Felony Receiving Stolen Property, Felony Failure to Comply with Signal or Order of Police Officer (fleeing and eluding), Obstructing Official Business, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Damaging, Driving Under Suspension and Driving Without a MC Endorsement. Mr. Wiley was also wanted by the Fairborn Police Department for Failure to Appear on charges of Carrying a Concealed Weapon, No Driver’s License and DUS. Mr. Wiley faces additional charges stemming from this pursuit to include Failure to Comply with Signal or Order of a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Obstructing Official Business and several other traffic related charges. Mr. Wiley was booked into the Clark County Jail and is awaiting arraignment.

Media Release

On November 10, 2017, in the late morning hours, a traffic stop was conducted by a deputy sheriff assigned to the City of New Carlisle service contract. As a result of this traffic stop, two subjects were charged criminally with several drug possession offenses. Additionally, a large quantity of evidence was obtained from this traffic stop which enabled the contract deputy and assisting detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division to acquire a search warrant for 106 South Smith Street, in the City of New Carlisle. After obtaining the search warrant and assembling a team, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrant with a raid at the address. After securing the scene, a full search was conducted pursuant to the warrant throughout the entire address. Numerous quantities of drug paraphernalia, evidence of drug trafficking, a firearm and ammunition, and approximately 2.5 to 2.8 pounds of Methamphetamine were seized by deputies and detectives. There were no arrests made at the time of the execution of the search warrant, and this case remains under investigation.

Sheriff Burchett and her administration were informed of the outcome of the search warrant execution, and the large quantity of illegal controlled substance removed. She responded by saying, "This is a victory for the citizens of New Carlisle, and an example of why their Police Levy, and the services it provides are so important to protecting the city. Those drugs seized today will not filter out to poison the citizens of that community and the surrounding area."

Media Release

On November 14, 2017, at approximately 1806 hours, Clark County Sheriff’s Office detectives from the Vice & Organized Crime Unit were patrolling the southwest quadrant of Clark County, and observed a large fire immediately in the rear of 11444 Gerlaugh Road. Detectives from the unit detected odors present with the fire that were consistent with precursor chemicals and the manufacture of illegal drugs, primarily Methamphetamine. Additional deputies were called and responded to the area, along with the Bethel Township Fire Department, who extinguished the fire using specialized means for such hazards. While the fire was being fought, detectives obtained consent to search the residence associated with the fire, and located a sizable quantity of evidence indicating the manufacture and use of Methamphetamine. Additionally, a newborn infant was located inside the residence, who was exposed to elements of the manufacturing process. Following extinguishment of the fire, examination of the burn pile revealed further evidence of drug manufacturing, and detectives were led to an outlying box trailer in the back yard of the property. Consent was obtained to search that vehicle also, and with assistance provided by other law enforcement officers certified in clandestine laboratory investigation, the presence of such a laboratory was confirmed in the trailer, although it was not actively operating at the time of discovery. As a result of this discovery, the owner of the trailer, Larry D. Jenkins, who also started the illegal burn, was arrested and charged with one count of Felony Illegal Manufacture of Drugs and one count of Felony Child Endangering. This incident currently remains under investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

This incident is another example of the ongoing efforts by Sheriff Burchett and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to keep her campaign promise to protect the entire community from the scourge and impact of illegal drugs.