A 20-year-old West Mansfield man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon, Nov. 15, following a series of incidents that began with harassment complaints and escalated into an alleged attempted robbery and a brief standoff with law enforcement.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office were first called about 1 p.m. to a home on East Center Street in the village after a woman reported that Raijuan R. White continued showing up at her residence with flowers and handwritten notes. The woman said White had previously taken her vehicle and dog without permission but declined to pursue charges once they were returned. She told deputies he fled the area after allegedly taking her dog again.
While deputies were responding, a second 911 call came in about 1:20 p.m. from a residence on South Main Street. The caller reported that a man, identified as White, attempted to rob his brother and sister-in-law at knifepoint, allegedly demanding their belongings. A family member wrestled White to the ground before he slipped away, leaving behind a black backpack. Deputies reported finding fake flowers, handwritten notes, and an empty 9mm handgun magazine inside the bag, along with a blue-handled knife.
Deputies then went to White’s home at 286 E. Center St. Officers reported that White briefly opened a back door but shut it immediately and refused to come outside. Officials said he could be seen looking through windows before retreating deeper into the residence. His mother told deputies by phone that he had blocked her number and would not respond.
A perimeter was established, and the Bellefontaine Police Department Special Response Team was activated.
Officers issued repeated verbal commands but received no response. The SRT later deployed distraction devices around the home. After the second device was used, White appeared briefly at a rear door before shutting it again. Moments later, he exited through the front door and surrendered without further incident.
Following the arrest, investigators obtained access to the residence. Deputies photographed evidence inside the home, where they located the ski mask and camouflage pants White was reportedly wearing during the earlier encounters.
White was lodged in the Logan County Jail after being arrested for attempted aggravated robbery.
On Nov. 16, deputies took an additional statement from a woman who reported that around noon on Nov. 15, a masked man she believed to be White approached her vehicle in a bank parking lot and tried to enter her passenger door after she refused to let him in. She told deputies he made no verbal threats and did not display a weapon but said the encounter frightened her.
Deputies seized multiple items from White, including clothing, two cellphones, fake flowers, letters, a knife, and a handgun magazine. No firearm was recovered.
