Richland County Sheriff’s Office
J. Steve Sheldon, Sheriff
NEWS RELEASE
01/24/2025
On January 24th, 2025 our Office received a complaint regarding a social media post concerning a threat
of violence being committed at a Clear Fork School. Within an hour of receiving the complaint, our Office
was able to identify, locate and subsequently arrest the person who made the threat. The offender is
currently incarcerated in the Richland County Jail pending arraignment on a felony charge of Inducing
Panic. Our Office worked closely with the Administration of the Clear Fork Schools along with the Bellville
and Butler Police Departments to ensure the safety of the students and staff of the Clear Fork Schools
pending the arrest of the offender.
Sheriff Sheldon would like to thank the Administration of the Clear Fork Schools, the Bellville Police
Department and the Butler Police Department for their cooperation. Their actions, in conjunction with
the dedication of his staff, aided in the successful conclusion of this event.
Attached is an approved release from Clear Fork Schools Superintendent Mr. John Thomas, a copy of the
completed Sheriff’s Office Report and a mugshot of the offender.
A.N.I. EDIT: The sheriff’s emblem has been corrected, I clicked the wrong image file when posting the story.
Sheriff’s Report
Photo Of Suspect:
