(From the Findlay Family YMCA)

Looking for something warm, low-key, and fun to do with the family on Valentine’s Day weekend? Stop in at the Findlay Family YMCA’s Early Learning Center (ELC) at Cory-Rawson, where we’ll host free a Sweethearts Saturday Open House from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Feb. 15. The public is invited to join us for crafts, cookie decorating, a Scholastic Book Fair, and more.

Cory-Rawson Local School District is located at 3930 County Road 26, Rawson, Ohio. To find the ELC, park in the lot on the east side of the school building and follow the signs to door B8.

The open house will also include tours of the ELC, which opened in fall 2023. Housed in ample and inviting space by the high school, the learning center serves children from infancy through fifth grade and is now a beloved part of Cory-Rawson’s signature, close-knit learning environment that prides itself on its agricultural heritage.

Parent Molly Hosler, who works for the district as a curriculum/instructor and career development director, said she loves having her preschooler, Elena, enrolled in the Y’s ELC program. Getting to see Elena during any given school day and watching her immersion inot interactive, collaborative, and customized learning has been rewarding, she explained.

“Over the 15 months that she has attended, she has bonded with her teachers well, made lots of friends, grown in her social and academic skills, and loves being part of the Cory-Rawson school community,” said Hosler. Elena has been “learning through a variety of exploratory activities in her classroom” and “the ELC staff always communicate about her daily and overall progress, community events, special programs and partnerships that have been invited into the classroom, and the social and academic skills they’re working on.”

“We feel well informed as parents and empowered to continue working on these skills at home. The experience has been so positive that our newborn will be joining the infant room later this year!” Hosler added.

Some activities ELC students have enjoyed include:

A Little Spot Program with Family Resource Center

Programs with the Hancock Park District

Summer swimming at the YMCA

Participating in the Cory-Rawson Art Show

“Dependable and quality childcare and early childhood education are only the tip of the iceberg when I think of the benefits of our partnership with the YMCA,” said Cory-Rawson Superintendent Jason Clark.

Intergenerational learning is also an important program component, benefiting program students and those at the high school who are interested in childcare as a profession.

Clark said high school students are employed at the ELC “with the goal of creating a pipeline of childcare and early childhood education professionals in the region. This relationship is a true partnership valued greatly by our community.”

Cory-Rawson High School student Hannah Reinhart said working at the “has been a great experience.”

“The children have made such a positive impact on me. It has helped me realize that working with a child holds a special place in my heart. It is something that I wish to continue with in the future,” Reinhart said.

“Our partnership with Cory-Rawson is a testament to the power of investing in young leaders,” said Child Development District Director Kari Redman. “The high schoolers who join us are wonderful Early Learning Center assets who bring fresh perspectives and energy for making a difference in young children’s lives.”

Redman remembers “Band Day” at Cory-Rawson as an indelible experience.

“Our little learners went outside to the field with their teachers, who included some of the high schoolers and Cory-Rawson alumni, to watch the band members share their musical talents with the next generation. It was a win-win-win and one of my favorite days ever,” Redman said. 

For more information on the YMCA’s ELC at Cory-Rawson, visit YMCA Early Learning Center at Cory-Rawson | Findlay YMCA.

The number of suicide deaths in Ohio declined for the first time in three years in 2023, decreasing about 1% from 2022’s numbers, according to the 2023 Ohio Suicide Report released today by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

2023 Ohio Suicide Report

Ohio deaths by suicides dropped to 1,777 in 2023 – 20 fewer than 2022. Ohio’s decrease compares favorably to national numbers. Across the country, suicide rates declined by less than 1% last year.

Ohio’s reduction in suicide deaths comes amid the state’s increased emphasis on mental health. Under the leadership of Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio has launched a series of initiatives to improve mental health and serve as a lifeline to people in crisis or experiencing thoughts of suicide.

“Ohio has become a national leader in addressing the mental health crisis, and this latest report indicates welcome progress,” said Governor DeWine. “But while this decrease in suicide deaths is certainly a step in the right direction, we must continue to make improvements in suicide prevention and mental health. Depression and suicide remain a serious threat – especially to our kids. If anything, our progress should inspire us to further advance our commitment to this life-saving work, because the life of every Ohioan is precious.”

In 2023, suicide remained the second-leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 10-14 and 20-34 and was the 12th-leading cause of death overall. On average, nearly five Ohioans died by suicide per day, including one individual age 10-24 every 36 hours.

“Suicide is a human tragedy. It impacts the health and well-being of our loved ones, friends, co-workers, and entire communities,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA. “All of us can play a part in continuing to bring these numbers down by paying attention, recognizing when someone is struggling, and knowing where to turn for help.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988Lifeline.org for 24/7, confidential support.

White non-Hispanic males continued to lead all groups for suicide in 2023, accounting for 68.7% of all suicide deaths (1,441).

Other key findings of the 2023 report include:

Black non-Hispanic females and White non-Hispanic females had the largest decreases in the rate of suicide deaths, both decreasing by 6%.

Ohioans ages 45-54 was the age group with the highest rate of suicide deaths (20.1 per 100,000 population).

Firearm was the mechanism used in over half (58.0%) of all suicide deaths (1,031).

The number of suicide deaths by drug poisoning increased by 11%.

(Rates are calculated as deaths per 100,000 population.)

Last January, Gov. DeWine announced the release of the 2024-2026 Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio, reinforcing his commitment to eliminating obstacles for families and individuals grappling with suicide. The plan, which is a collaborative effort of Governor DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, serves as a blueprint to mobilize and align state efforts to prevent suicide.

“The data reflected in ODH’s latest report suggests that we are beginning to see results from our collaborative, targeted work to address suicide, but we are still losing Ohioans every day,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn, whose department leads several statewide suicide prevention initiatives. “Every Ohioan can play a role in reducing suicide in our communities simply by talking about mental health. Every time we remind someone that they are not alone, and that help is available, we can raise awareness, reduce stigma, and spread hope. Together, we can save lives.”

Suicide Prevention Strategies Underway Across Ohio

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was established to improve both accessibility of crisis services and to meet the nation’s growing suicide and mental health-related crisis care needs. The easy-to-remember, 3-digit number provides 24/7, free and confidential support to Ohioans experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Since launching in July 2022, Ohio’s 19 call centers (the most of any state in the nation) have responded to more than 440,000 contacts – which includes calls, chats, and texts from Ohioans in all 88 counties. Ohio 988’s speed-to-answer rate of 25 seconds exceeds the national average of 36 seconds. Also, 99% of calls are answered in-state by a fellow community member familiar with Ohio, meaning only 1% roll over to national 988 backup call centers.

Building suicide prevention capacity and infrastructure at the organizational, local, and state levels. Ohio has taken action to increase the number of suicide prevention coalitions that are aligned with the CDC’s best practices and established the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion at Ohio University and a School-Based Center of Excellence at Miami University to focus on prevention and early intervention among Ohio’s K-12 students. These centers provide training to the behavioral health workforce and serve as resources for communities and 71 suicide prevention coalitions representing 84 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Community Town Halls. In 2024, OhioMHAS partnered with Butler County and Mahoning County to implement a community-based suicide prevention process that aligns with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Strategic Prevention Framework and the CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action. Each county hosted a Suicide Prevention Community Conversation to decrease stigma, increase awareness of resources, and encourage help-seeking behaviors. More than 125 people attended these community conversations. Each county implemented a Suicide Prevention Assessment to identify the most prominent suicide risk and protective factors in their counties. Using findings from their assessments, each county partnered with their suicide prevention coalition to develop a Gap Analysis. Based on the Gap Analyses, OhioMHAS provided each county with tailored recommendations to inform local suicide prevention action plans. OhioMHAS is working to partner with additional counties in 2025.

Black Youth and Young Adult Suicide Prevention Initiative. Announced in January 2024, this initiative enhances local and statewide capacity to boost efforts in suicide prevention, stigma reduction, and addressing factors contributing to the comparatively high suicide rate among Black youth and young adults. It primarily serves at-risk youth ages 10-24 in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, Montgomery, Muskingum, and Summit counties. The initiative’s Community of Practice – which includes representatives from 23 organizations – supports suicide prevention through community interventions, resource sharing, and collaboration. It unites Ohio-based organizations, practitioners, and stakeholders committed to reducing suicide among Black youth. In 2024, the initiative advanced in areas such as partner empowerment, service accessibility, community education, and workforce enhancement.

Transformation Transfer Initiative. Ohio received a $250,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for their 2025 Transformation Transfer Initiative, focusing on crisis care and suicide prevention for underserved youth. Ohio will support and expand the efforts of their Black Youth and Young Adult Suicide Prevention Initiative, with a focus on engaging people with lived experience. Goals include: conducting a series of professional development and skill-building opportunities for youth-serving community leaders to build suicide prevention expertise; promoting trainings on strategies to aid faith leaders in offering effective suicide prevention programs, promoting youth awareness campaigns that incorporate messages around 988; developing and distributing a resource toolkit to guide organizations in implementing Black youth and young adult suicide prevention strategies in alignment with the 2024-2026 Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan; and empowering Black youth to engage in youth-led programs utilizing the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to develop action plans and suicide prevention strategies to implement in their local communities.

Building resiliency and promoting lifelong well-being of students. We know by increasing protective factors upstream, youth are more likely to reach out for help when they need it. In his first budget, Governor DeWine created the Student Wellness and Success Fund for schools to join community partners to help meet the physical, mental, and behavioral health needs of their students. Since FY20, this program has provided public and community schools with $1.4 billion in funding to provide wraparound supports for students. During FY24, 764 districts and community schools implemented 1,026 mental health initiatives utilizing funds. OhioMHAS and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) have also partnered with Ohio schools to provide Sources of Strength. Research suggests students who participate in these programs are less likely than their peers at other schools to struggle with mental health problems, bullying, violence, drug misuse, or to die by suicide. Ohio invested $4 million to bring sources of Sources of Strength to Ohio with the hope of preventing adverse outcomes by increasing well-being, help-seeking, resiliency, healthy coping, and belonging in our schools and beyond. So far, Sources of Strength has reached 117,178 students in 105 Ohio districts.

Prevention efforts focused on groups that are considered at high-risk for suicide. They include:

Be Present Ohio (ages 10-24).

Life is Better with You Here (communities of color).

OhioCares (veterans/military members).

Got Your Back (Ohio’s agricultural communities).

Life Side Ohio (firearms community).

Man Therapy Ohio (men).

Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Military Members, Veterans, and their Families (veterans/military members).

Older Ohioan Suicide Prevention Steering Committee and Listening sessions. In response to increasing suicide rates among older adults, OhioMHAS, in partnership with the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, formed an Older Ohioan Suicide Prevention Steering Committee with partners that include the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), Area Agencies on Aging, and other organizations serving older adults across Ohio. This committee will help guide a series of listening sessions in areas of the state with high saturation of older adults and high rates of suicide and then develop recommendations to aimed at preventing suicide, reducing social isolation, and promoting mental health and wellness. 

Ohio’s Older Adult Behavioral Health & Wellness Initiative. This effort is focused on empowering older adults to make healthy lifestyle choices and navigate use of medications and alcohol using the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) program. The initiative is also addressing ways to reduce the risk of substance misuse and suicide. OhioMHAS has partnered with Montgomery County ADAMH, St. Mary Development Corporation, UMADAOP of Dayton, and others to expand these programs across Ohio. To date, the initiative has served over 1,100 older adults.

Addressing suicide prevention among refugee populations. OhioMHAS, in partnership with the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, hosted a series of listening sessions with Ohio Bhutanese-Nepali communities throughout the state to gain insight into the culture and specific experiences of Bhutanese-Nepali Ohioans related to mental health and suicide. The listening sessions explored issues such as community strengths and challenges related to receiving care for mental health issues, as well as opportunities to prevent suicide and eliminate barriers to mental health and well-being. The feedback gathered through the listening sessions will inform public- and private-sector strategies aimed at preventing suicide and promoting mental health and well-being. A final report with recommendations will be released in early 2025.

Helping Ohioans recognize the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and respond appropriately. This is being accomplished through awareness campaigns, such as Be Present Ohio and Life is Better with You Here; continued support for Crisis Intervention Team training for first responders; Mental Health First Aid Training (more than 7,600 Ohio adults and teens completed training in 2024); and Question. Persuade. Refer (QPR) suicide prevention trainings.

Concentrating efforts on integrating suicide prevention practices and care into high-impact systems, including healthcare, public safety, education, and employers. OhioMHAS and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation support awareness trainings in the workplace and partnered with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce to release a Suicide Prevention Employer Toolkit to educate and equip employers with tools to address mental health and suicide concerns in the workplace. The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) provided funding to support VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace trainings (304 employers trained in 2024), which help businesses proactively address the early warning signs of suicide in the workplace. Just as organizations have realized they can help reduce heart disease by encouraging exercise, they can also reduce suicide by promoting mental health and encouraging early identification and intervention. 

Ohio’s Recovery Friendly Workplace program. Launched in August 2024 by Governor DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative, the Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace program provides Ohio businesses the opportunity to earn a designation as a “Recovery Friendly Workplace.” In addition to offering job opportunities and other supports for individuals in recovery from substance misuse, the program encourages businesses to implement practices to support employees’ mental health. According to SAMHSA’s most recent full year of data, in Ohio, 5.2% of adults – over 469,000 people – said they had experienced serious thoughts of suicide.

Safe and supportive environments that engage students and prioritize wellness. School-based mental health and wellness initiatives are key to ensuring students regularly attend school and are healthy, ready to learn, and prepared for success. Ohio law requires schools to provide instruction for students in grades 6-12 on suicide awareness and prevention, safety training and violence prevention, and social inclusion. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) encourages schools to implement comprehensive school suicide prevention strategies that address suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Ohio schools and districts can use Student Wellness and Success Funds and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid to provide mental health services, as well as support suicide prevention efforts in Ohio schools.

Behavioral health initiatives and suicide prevention programs for veterans. Key to the state’s efforts to improve the lives of veterans is continuing to understand and address the potential challenges they face and connect them to avenues of support. The Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS) joins forces with several partners to build a more veteran- and military-informed community behavioral health system, using cultural competency training such as Star Behavioral Health Providers and the Governor’s Challenge PsychArmor Training Portal, as well as building community collaborations through OhioCares and Governor’s Challenge technical assistance, such as the ODVS PRS Program/Erie County Crisis Intercept Mapping initiative and the Ohio Suicide Mortality Review Committee. At the end of FY2024, more than 4,600 individuals had participated in a Star Training event in Ohio since its launch in 2015, and there were 329 Clinical Providers in the Ohio Star Providers Registry, serving clients in 388 locations in 65 Ohio counties.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

This morning was the successful conclusion of an extensive covert online investigation led by Detective Eric England of the Tiffin Police Department’s Criminal Division.

With the invaluable assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the METRICH Task Force, the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Investigative Unit, and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was executed on January 23, 2025, at a residence in the 700 block of S. Washington St. in Tiffin, Ohio.

The investigation, which uncovered the active sharing of child sexual exploitation material through the peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol BitTorrent, has led to the arrest of 46-year-old Mick J. Okonski. Mr. Okonski admitted to downloading and sharing this disturbing material. He was arrested and held at the Seneca County Jail pending his arraignment.

Mr. Okonski is charged with Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine. Additional charges may be forthcoming following the review and further analysis of the evidence recovered from the residence.

I want to express my gratitude to Detective England and the entire Tiffin Police Criminal Division for their unwavering dedication in this critical investigation. I also extend sincere thanks to the outside agencies who provided support and expertise, demonstrating the strength of our collaborative efforts in protecting our community.

The Tiffin Police Department’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children remains resolute, and we will continue to work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable.

Chief Pauly

Local Red Cross Director Todd James was on with WKXA’s Rex Howard.

James, the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio in Findlay, talked about the need for volunteers, becoming a blood donor, and other topics. 

Listen to Rex’s full interview with Todd below.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn declared January 22 Calvin Rettig day in Findlay in honor of the 100-year-old Veteran’s birthday.

Calvin, a World War II Veteran, was born on January 22, 1925.

The proclamation reads, “I, Christina M. Muryn, Mayor of the City of Findlay, Ohio, do hereby take official note of the joyous occasion of Calvin Rettig’s 100^th Birthday; and do hereby proclaim January 22, 2025 as CALVIN RETTIG DAY.

Read the full proclamation below.

(From Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development)

Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development, a division of the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance, is pleased to announce Matt Gilroy is joining as their new Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Gilroy brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as the Director of the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) in Wauseon, Ohio, since 2014. In this role, he spearheaded business development and project management initiatives. Prior to his time at the FCEDC, Gilroy held the position of Chief Development Officer at Defiance College. He is a Certified Economic Development Practitioner through the Ohio Economic Development Institute and the Ohio Economic Development Association.

Matt has been a member of Rotary International for more than twenty years and has served in several leadership roles including Treasurer of the Fulton County Airport Authority. He also served as President of the Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development Association (NORED) and currently serves on the Northwest Ohio Development Assistance Corporation (NODAC) Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt to our team,” said Economic Development Executive Director Chris Keller. “His extensive experience in economic development, coupled with his established relationships at regional and state levels, will be invaluable. Matt will play a key role in supporting our economic development efforts, including company retention and expansion, strategic new company attraction, workforce development, community planning, small business assistance, and downtown Findlay development.” Key tasks will include leading business outreach efforts, engaging residential developers and expanding Foreign Trade Zone opportunities.

“The addition of Matt to the Economic Development team will significantly enhance its capabilities,” said Alliance President and CEO Dan Sheaffer. “Our team is already well-organized and effective, and Matt’s expertise will further strengthen our ability to create new opportunities for business and industry in our community.”

Matt graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2002 from Defiance College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Management. He and his wife Jennie have two daughters and are relocating to Findlay-Hancock County.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Kimberly M. Thomas, Esq., corporate compliance officer at Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS), has been named the 2024 Compliance Officer of the Year by Healthicity. This prestigious award celebrates healthcare compliance professionals who go above and beyond to foster safer, more compliant practices across the industry. Thomas is the second-ever winner of this national award.

Corporate Compliance is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and adherence to policies, practices, and standards to ensure the organization meets external legal and key regulatory requirements and internal standards. This department also follows up on compliance issues as they arise.

“Compliance includes risk management, but it goes beyond that into ensuring that the organization always adheres to the highest ethical standards,” said Rick Lofgren, manager of corporate compliance. “State and national regulations related to healthcare are complex, and the details change continually. Our work involves staying abreast of this changing landscape and ensuring that the leaders of each department understand their role in ensuring BVHS follows these standards.”

“Kim provides valuable guidance to BVHS leadership across the organization every day and is dedicated to staying up to date on healthcare regulations,” said Myron D. Lewis, MSW, MBA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of BVHS. “This national honor reflects how she continually goes above and beyond to make BVHS a stronger organization, and we are grateful.”

Healthicity is a national leader in the healthcare compliance field, so Thomas will be recognized by peers across the nation.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” Thomas said. “BVHS has a great compliance team, and, while I am pleased Healthicity is recognizing my work, compliance is a team effort and not something one individual can do alone. I’m proud to be in this role at this organization and to work with this team every day.”

Thomas is the director of legal and risk management services as well as the corporate compliance officer for BVHS. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from The Ohio State University, then worked at Blanchard Valley Hospital for a few years before earning her law degree from Ohio Northern University.

Upon graduating, she worked as an associate attorney at a regional law firm, where she gained exposure to the defense of medical malpractice claims and general healthcare law before returning to BVHS in 2006. In 2015, she earned her master’s in law in Health Law from Loyola University. As a member of the ethics committee at BVHS, she provides legal and ethical consults to physicians for clinical situations.

Healthicity leadership noted the following of Thomas’ accomplishments in selecting her for the award: spearheading the implementation of a comprehensive Corporate Compliance Program for BVHS; conducting proactive audits and reviews to ensure regulatory adherence; providing strategic legal counsel to address risk and compliance challenges effectively; and educating future healthcare professionals as an adjunct faculty member at Ohio Northern University.

Lofgren added that Thomas also has a long history of volunteer and board involvement with other organizations in the community.

“Her name is synonymous with working to make BVHS a better place, but it extends beyond that into making the community a better place,” Lofgren said. “Kim is passionate about this organization and the Northwest Ohio region and is a phenomenal leader.”

As part of this recognition, Healthicity will donate $1,000 to a local charity, Welcome to a New Life, reflecting Thomas’ commitment to giving back and making a difference beyond the workplace.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

Big things are happening at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library!

Starting January 27, we’re bringing a colorful refresh to the library with new carpet, fresh paint, and a reimagined layout for some of your favorite collections.

Library Director Sarah Clevidence was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the changes.

What’s changing?

• The Youth, Teen, Media, and Genealogy collections are moving to new locations to make the best use of our space.
• A new combined service desk will be introduced for Media and Adult Services.

Don’t worry—your favorite items will still be available for request through our catalog at findlaylibrary.org!

We can’t wait for you to experience the new and improved library!

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce)

The Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will host Hancock County Safety Council, featuring a presentation titled “Team-Based Solutions for Language Barriers to Improve Safety” on Thursday, February 6, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn in Findlay. The event costs $25 to attend. The event will feature Nathan Frasure of Ohio Logistics.

In this session, attendees will learn that safety often relies on teamwork due to the shared responsibilities of all individuals in the workplace and clear communication between associates, which language differences can hinder if you do not break down those barriers.

Registration can be done online at www.HancockCountySafetyCouncil.com.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

On January 22nd, 2025 at approximately 1:30pm Deputies attempted a traffic stop with a 2023 Hyundai SUV whose driver had been identified as having two active warrants. The driver failed to stop and started a pursuit heading southbound on Blanchard Ave near 6th Street in the City of Findlay. The vehicle maintained speeds of 90MPH up until the SR 15 entrance ramp where the vehicle traveled southbound on SR 15 from SR 37. Speeds continued upwards of 95MPH and at several points reached 115MPH. Several Stop Stick deployments were attempted but unsuccessful. The vehicle continued south on SR 15 turning into US 23. Approximately 1 mile north of State Highway 199 on US 23 in Wyandot County, the vehicle came to a complete stop. The driver exited the vehicle and complied with Deputies commands before being placed in custody. The pursuit lasted approximately 28 miles over the span of 20 minutes.

As a result of this pursuit Chaz I. Holley of Columbus was incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center. He is being held on fresh charges for Failure to Comply (M1) and Driving Under Suspension.

Chaz is also being held on his active warrant through Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for failing to appear for abduction (F3), tampering with evidence (F3), possession of drugs (F5), weapons under disability (F3), improper handling of a firearm (F4), failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer (F4) and receiving stolen property (F4). Chaz’s second warrant is through the Columbus Police Department for domestic violence (M1).

Assisting at the scene was the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office, The Ohio State Patrol and Danner’s Towing.