Deputies Respond to Reports of Disorderly Conduct and a Firearm Incident Amid Growing Crowd Tensions.
MANSFIELD, OH — A night of escalating unrest at the Richland County Fair culminated in a search for a reported firearm, which deputies later identified as a realistic BB gun replica, according to official case reports from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Timeline of Events
1. Initial Disturbances (8:27 PM):
Deputy Ethan Rogers and other officers responded to multiple complaints from vendors about a group of 20–30 juveniles engaging in disorderly conduct, including theft from booths, verbal harassment, and physical altercations. The group repeatedly scattered upon seeing deputies, complicating efforts to de-escalate.
2. Gang Signs and Tensions:
As officers intervened in a roughhousing incident, two juveniles became combative and flashed what appeared to be gang signs, prompting closer surveillance of the group.
3. Firearm Report:
An unidentified event worker alerted Lt. Shoemaker and Deputy Rogers that a juvenile—later identified as a 16-year-old male suspect—had a firearm. The teen was detained and searched, but no weapon was found. Witnesses claimed the gun had been passed among the group, and rumors spread that a semi-automatic handgun had fallen off a fair ride.
4. Crowd Erupts:
The situation deteriorated as the crowd grew agitated, with individuals yelling and fleeing. Additional deputies were called to disperse the crowd.
5. BB Gun Discovered:
A breakthrough came when a witness contacted dispatch, revealing that the suspect had confessed to hiding a Glock 19 BB gun replica (lacking an orange tip) behind a toilet in a fairground bathroom. Deputies recovered the replica, which had a metal slide and weight mimicking a real firearm.
Charges and Investigation
- Primary Offenses: Disorderly conduct (Ohio Code 2917.11) and inducing panic (2917.31).
- Key Subjects:
- A 14-year-old male suspect (Lucas, OH)
- A 16-year-old male suspect (Mansfield, OH)
- The case remains under review for potential charges related to the BB gun’s misuse.
Officer Statements
Deputy Rogers noted in the report: “The BB gun’s realistic design and the group’s behavior created a volatile situation. We’re reviewing fairground footage to identify additional individuals.”