Austin T. Sowers, 24, of Milford Center, was charged with felony counts of escape and vandalism and a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass related to an incident Saturday evening.
Deputies working a security detail at Froggy’s at the Lake, 11065 Township Road 293, Lakeview, received a report of a fight about 11 p.m. Sowers and another man involved in the altercation were reportedly separated and then told by deputies that they were not permitted to return to the establishment that evening, or they would be taken to jail.
However, deputies said about 10 minutes later, Sowers returned to the bar and deputies escorted him outside. He was placed under arrest and deputies performed a pat down search of his person. He told deputies that he might have a knife on his person, but deputies did not locate the knife at that time.
Deputies said the defendant was combative after he was placed in the cruiser and that he tried to keep the cruiser door open with his foot. Deputies were able to close the door and then waited for another unit to arrive to transport Sowers to the Logan County Jail.
However, deputies heard a commotion in the back seat of the cruiser and found that the defendant had used a small knife to make a 2-inch cut through the seat belt. Deputies were able to retrieve the knife from Sowers while pointing a Taser at him.
He was transported to the Logan County Jail, and upon arrival, was placed in the restraint chair because of his behavior.
• Another patron at Froggy’s at the Lake, Jon Payton, 50, of 11483 Kickapoo Path, Lakeview, was charged with theft related to an incident Monday at the establishment.
Deputies working security at the bar about 4 p.m. received a report from employees that a customer had walked out of the business after allegedly taking the tip jar. They said he had concealed the tip jar under his shirt.
Deputies spoke with Payton, who said it was a “bad joke” and that he wanted to see if anyone would notice the tip jar missing. Management estimated that the tip jar had contained approximately $300.
Payton was lodged in the jail.
Drug trafficking, possession charges filed
Brennan J. Duty, 29, of London, Ohio, was charged with felony counts of trafficking in drugs, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and possession of schedule IV drugs related to an incident Friday afternoon.
Deputies and West Liberty Police Department officers responded about noon to the Dollar General, 1134 N. Detroit St., West Liberty, on a report from store employees of a suspicious person who also was possibly intoxicated. The employees said that the man was slurring his words and unsteady on his feet.
While en route to the store, deputies were informed that the shopper had left the premises and provided with a vehicle description.
A short time later, deputies located the vehicle parked in a driveway at 6674 County Road 14, West Liberty. While speaking with the driver, Duty, he told deputies he had been at the Dollar General store.
Deputies said the defendant appeared overly nervous and that he was fumbling with a zipper pouch that had been attached to a belt loop of his pants.
Duty was asked to step out of the vehicle and when questioned about what was in the zipper pouch, he reportedly replied, “It’s drugs, man.” From the zipper pouch, deputies recovered suspected crystal methamphetamine totaling 27.2 grams, suspected powder methamphetamine totaling 1.1 grams, packages of suspected crack cocaine totaling 0.4 grams and 0.6 grams and Xanax pills.
The defendant was placed under arrest and lodged in the jail. At the sheriff’s office, deputies said the substances were weighed and field-tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine. The various drugs were individually packaged by drug type, deputies said.
• Olivia M. Sanford, 26, of 9119 County Road 28, Zanesfield, was charged with possession of methamphetamine related to a traffic stop on Memorial Day.
Deputies on patrol in the area of U.S. Route 33 near State Route 540 about 6:40 a.m. observed her 2001 black Acura and said the registration returned to a 2007 red Chevrolet and initiated the stop.
The driver, Sanford, told deputies that she had just purchased the vehicle and was waiting for the title.
She consented to a vehicle search and deputies and a trooper of the Ohio State Highway Patrol who stopped to assist located several pieces of aluminum foil with burn marks.
The defendant was asked if she had any illegal items on her person and she admitted she had hidden something in her bra. She then retrieved a piece of aluminum foil and clear baggie containing a powdery substance and gave it to deputies, stating that it was methamphetamine.
Sanford was lodged in the jail.