The Bellefontaine Police Department enlisted the aid of both deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter Wednesday, July 30, in an attempt to locate a Lima-area man who reportedly made statements on a cell phone call to a friend in Bellefontaine, threatening to harm himself and others at about 4:07 p.m.
Using a “ping” locator, officers found the phone was last used just southwest of the city west of Troy Road and south of the city’s water treatment facility. As the man reportedly had made statements about conducting a “standoff”, police and deputies formed a perimeter around the area and used both the OSHP helicopter and a drone to search the area for approximately one hour, but were unable to locate the caller.
After learning from family that the man frequented city parks, officers began searching the area and businesses near Brown and Rutan Parks before family members notified them that the suspect was seen at Speedway, 329 S. Main St., at about 7:48 p.m. where he was found and detained.
Police transported the man to Mary Rutan Hospital, where he reportedly refused treatment, but on the threat of being arrested, he relented and allowed the ER staff to complete their assessment while officers were preparing a 72-hour psychiatric hold, owing to the suspect’s statements that he was intending self-harm and threatening others.
Police were called back to Mary Rutan Hospital after their departure when the man reportedly told the hospital staff that either he was to be arrested or he would be leaving the hospital. Security at MRH later contacted police and officers arrived at the hospital and arrested the man without further incident, charging him with persistent disorderly conduct before lodging him in the Logan County Jail.
The man was placed on suicide watch at the jail, which requires that jail staff check on him every 10 to 15 minutes to ensure his well-being, jail officials said. Additionally, he is wearing a protective vest at the jail in an effort to prevent self-harm.
TCN Behavior Health staff will be evaluating the man to determine if he should be transferred to a mental health facility.
– David Clark Taggart, 36, of 400 W. Sandusky, was arrested Monday, July 30 at about 3:36 a.m. following a traffic stop on the west side the city.
Officers report that they initiated the traffic stop after they observed Taggart fail to obey a traffic signal at the intersection of W. Sandusky St. and Garfield Ave. and stopped him for the violation in the 200 block of Pratt St. Officers noted a crack pipe in plain view on the the floorboard of the driver’s side of Taggart’s vehicle and a probable cause search of the vehicle found two knives and three rocks of suspected crack, which tested positive for cocaine at the scene.
Taggart was then arrested on charges of possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia and transported to the Logan County Jail.