Appleseed News

Tag: Richland County Sheriffs Office

  • Mansfield Man Arrested After Multi-Agency Manhunt and Struggle with Deputies

    Mansfield Man Arrested After Multi-Agency Manhunt and Struggle with Deputies

    Sponsor

    MANSFIELD, OH — August 7, 2025
    A Mansfield man was arrested early Wednesday morning after a multi-hour manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, aerial drone support, and a physical altercation with deputies.

    James Robert Sowders, 40, of Skyline Road, was taken into custody around 5:14 a.m. at a residence on North McElroy Road following a foot pursuit and standoff with Richland County Sheriff’s deputies. Sowders is facing multiple charges, including burglary (ORC 2911.12), resisting arrest causing physical harm to a law enforcement officer (ORC 2921.33B), and obstructing official business (ORC 2921.31).

    The search began in connection with an earlier case (GO #2025-18026) where Sowders allegedly threatened to set his ex-girlfriend’s house on fire and sent multiple suicidal messages. Due to these threats, Richland County Dispatch initiated a ping of Sowders’ cellphone, which led authorities to the McElroy Road area.

    Deputies established a perimeter and requested assistance from the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team and RCSO K9 units, including K9 Turbo. According to the incident report, Sowders was eventually found hiding under a pickup truck inside an occupied garage at 428 N. McElroy Rd. Deputies entered the garage with permission from the homeowner.

    When confronted, Sowders refused verbal commands and fled on foot, jumping fences and hiding under a camper nearby. The drone team tracked his movement, and deputies closed in. Despite multiple attempts to subdue him—including an unsuccessful taser deployment by Lt. Jason Shoemaker—Sowders resisted arrest. A violent struggle ensued involving several deputies.

    Deputy reports describe efforts to forcibly control Sowders, including physical strikes and threats to break his arm if he did not comply. Lt. Shoemaker suffered a visible injury to his lip during the struggle. Sowders was eventually subdued, handcuffed, and treated at the scene by Madison Township Fire before being transported to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. After medical clearance, he was taken to the Richland County Jail.

    Evidence collected at the scene included Sowders’ cellphone, a taser cartridge, and photographs documenting the injuries and arrest location.

    Sowders is currently being held on multiple felony charges. His arrest was officially cleared by Deputy Logan Dilley and supervised by Lt. Cayla Schaad.

    The Richland County Sheriff’s Office has not reported any injuries to civilians, and no firearms were used during the incident, despite initial concerns that a loud noise might have been a gunshot. Officers later confirmed it was the sound of the taser deployment echoing in the enclosed area.

    Sponsor
  • Juvenile Group Causes Chaos at Richland County Fair; BB Gun Replica Sparks Panic

    Juvenile Group Causes Chaos at Richland County Fair; BB Gun Replica Sparks Panic

    Sponsor

    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.”

    Sponsor
  • Small Child and Dog Left in Car Rescued by Quick-Thinking Deputy Mother Charged with Child Endangerment

    Small Child and Dog Left in Car Rescued by Quick-Thinking Deputy Mother Charged with Child Endangerment

    Richland County, May 25th, 2024 – While on patrol, Richland County Sheriff Deputy Vanhouten was flagged down by a concerned citizen who reported that a small child and a dog had been left alone in a car in the Kroger parking lot on Ashland Rd. Deputy Vanhouten promptly arrived at the scene and located the vehicle, finding a child in a car seat and a dog inside. The car’s windows were all up, except for the driver’s window, which was partially open.

    Given the outside temperature of 80 degrees, the interior of the car could have reached dangerously high temperatures. Deputy Vanhouten immediately opened the door to allow fresh air into the vehicle. Lt. Berry arrived soon after to assist, staying with the child while Deputy Vanhouten searched for the parents.

    A short time later, a woman approached the vehicle, identifying herself as the child’s mother. She stated she was with her fiancé, Wadee Alsayyah who owned the vehicle. Both individuals were apologetic and did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Fortunately, the child was unharmed, thanks to the quick actions of the concerned citizen and Deputy Vanhouten.

    The mother, identified as Dezzi Decziraigh Peters, was cited for Simple Assault – Endangering Children, due to the risk posed to the child’s health and safety. She was informed of her mandatory court date and advised of the potential dangers of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, especially in high temperatures. Richland County Child Services was also notified of the incident.

    This incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and swift law enforcement response in preventing potential tragedies.

    See this article by CBS News on car temps.

  • Madison Twp Fire Dept Responds to MVA on Eastview Drive

    Madison Twp Fire Dept Responds to MVA on Eastview Drive

    Madison Township Fire Department swiftly responded to a distress call regarding a single-car accident on Eastview Drive. Reports indicate that a red sedan veered off the right side of the roadway, colliding with a mailbox before traversing a drainage ditch and ultimately halting in a nearby yard. Upon arrival, Madison firefighters encountered a combative patient.

    Both the Ohio State Patrol and Richland County Sheriff’s Office promptly arrived at the scene to provide assistance and ensure the safety of all involved. Emergency responders successfully extricated the driver from the vehicle’s confines. The injured individual received immediate medical attention on-site before being transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

    The cause if the accident is being investigated.

  • Sherriff Steve Sheldon

    Sherriff Steve Sheldon

    Richland County Sheriff’s Office

    J. Steve Sheldon, Sheriff

    NEWS RELEASE 2/6/2024

    The Richland County Sheriff’s Office is aware of an article published by the Mansfield News Journal on January 29, 2024, regarding numerous false allegations made by two prior employees and a current employee about Major Joe Masi and Captain James Sweat.

    The article references EEOC complaints allegedly filed by the three individuals even though this Office has never received a copy nor formal notice of any complaints. Through inquiry with the EEOC, my Office has been assured no such documents have been filed. I will refrain from commenting on specific details referenced in the article until the complaints are received and the legal process runs its course.

    I can say that Major Masi and Captain Sweat are exemplary law enforcement officers who go above and beyond what is required of them while doing what is best for this Office and the residents of Richland County. I can make no such statements regarding the two disgruntled former employees nor Ms. Spicer, who has received and continues to receive opportunities to bring her performance levels up to acceptable standards. This is documented in a performance improvement plan, performance evaluations, and other documents in her employment files, which are public records.

    It should be noted that the above-referenced article was published without requesting or obtaining any available public records from this Office.

    Link to the article Sheriff Sheldon is referring to. Mansfield News Journal.