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RINGLEIN |
A Columbus man who in recent months has fought a speeding ticket received in July, was charged Wednesday with resisting arrest and contempt of court after he reportedly disrupted proceedings in Bellefontaine Municipal Court.
Joseph R. Ringlein, 54, initially was charged July 5 with obstructing official business and was cited for speed related to a traffic stop in Logan County that evening.
A deputy of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office on patrol in the area of State Route 274 near County Road 23 observed his vehicle speeding, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver continued for about a mile after the deputy activated the cruiser’s overhead lights before stopping, as previously reported in the Examiner.
During the traffic stop, the driver initially refused to identify himself, stating that he is a member of the “sovereign community,” and is a “free man in free travel.”
Several other deputies responded to the scene, and once threatened with arrest, Mr. Ringlein provided the deputies with his identification information.
Wednesday afternoon in Bellefontaine Municipal Court, Mr. Ringlein reportedly would not cooperate with Acting Judge Michael Brady and was belligerent in his responses.
Judge Brady asked deputies to arrest the defendant on a contempt of court charge. Mr. Ringlein also would not listen to deputies’ instructions, and then the defendant “went limp” and deputies had to carry him out of the courtroom.
He is currently lodged in the Logan County Jail.
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