Source: Ken Fitz, Ohio DNR Chief Wildlife Enforcement Officer
On Tuesday, November 17th, due to a collaborative effort between the Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and US Marshal SOFAST task force, a violent offender was apprehended in Southwestern Hocking County.
The arrest arose out of an incident which occurred late in the evening on Friday, November 13th, when an ODNR Wildlife Officer attempted to stop a vehicle in Northern Vinton County for wildlife violations.
When the vehicle finally stopped for officers, two of the three occupants fled on foot into the woods. Multiple Wildlife Officers pursued the suspects on foot. As officers began to close in on the subjects, one of the males began discharging a firearm.
Two suspects fled on foot avoided apprehension that evening, but the third, Shawn Barber, 28 of McArthur, was detained. Upon searching the area adjacent to vehicle, a large amount of methamphetamine was located along with a handgun and an assault rifle with a high capacity magazine.
One of the two males, who fled, was identified as Timothy Ousley, 27 of McArthur. He was apprehended in Jackson County on Monday.
ODNR Investigators determined the other individual was Kevin Wright, 28 of Logan and was who discharged the firearm.
Wright had a bench warrant for his arrest for failure to appear to sign his bond after he was arraigned in Hocking County Common Pleas Court on charges of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, (F-3) Aggravated Possession of Drugs, (F-5) Possession of Drugs, (F-5) and Possessing Criminal Tools, (F-5).
Wright also had an outstanding warrant from Vinton County for Failure to appear on a Dangerous Drug charge.
Based on the seriousness of the alleged offense and that the suspect was considered armed and dangerous, the US Marshal SOFAST task force was requested to assist with the apprehension of Wright.
On Tuesday afternoon, officers from ODNR, HCSO and SOFAST located Wright in a camper on Sams Creek Road just inside Ross County. As officers approached the camper, Wright fled into the woods on foot and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
Officers located the firearm that they believed was used on Friday along with ammunition and various narcotics.
ODNR will be charging Ousley and Barber for numerous felony charges including Trafficking in Methamphetamine, (F-2), Possession of Methamphetamine, (F-2), Obstructing Justice, (F-4) and Obstructing Official Business, (F-5).
Wright will be facing the same charges with an additional charge of Felonious Assault on a Peace Officer, (F-1).
SOFAST is a fugitive-focused, U.S. Marshals Service-led task force consisting of local, state and federal authorities including the Columbus Police Department, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Delaware County Probation, Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Reynoldsburg Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Secret Service.
Read a media account here