Canal Winchester Messenger - December 26th, 2021

PAGE 6 - MESSENGER - December 26, 2021
Incident causes schools to close for a day
By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
An emergency situation prompted Canal
Winchester Schools officials to close down
on Dec. 10.
During the early morning hours of Dec.
10, deputies from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s
Department were dispatched to Canal
Winchester High School on a report of a motorist
operating recklessly on a softball field
and causing damage.
According to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s
Office: the deputies located a red pickup
truck, which had been allegedly stolen in
Columbus, that had crashed into a set of
bleachers and sustained heavy front end
damage. While deputies were inspecting the
truck and searching for the driver, they
heard what they perceived to be gunshots
coming from an area behind them. The
deputies turned toward the sound and saw
a male standing near their parked cruisers.
The male then fled the area on foot.
Additional police officers from Lithopolis,
Franklin County, Columbus, Ohio State
Highway Patrol, Madison Township, and
Obetz responded to the scene to assist in the
search for the male.
Canal Winchester Schools Superintendent
James Sotlar said he was notified of
the incident at 6:25 a.m. and classes in all
buildings were canceled for the day. No students
were involved in the incident.
According to the sheriff’s department,
“BEST NEW YEARS PARTY IN TOWN”
later, during the ensuing investigation,
deputies found and apprehended the male
as he hid in a wooded area south of the
Westchester Golf Course.
The male, identified as Joseph Brown,
was taken into custody and transported to
the Franklin County Jail where he was
booked on a charge of criminal trespassing
and a probation violation.
Sotlar said in emergency situations his
main goal is always the safety and security
of students and staff.
“The individual involved in the situation
was on the loose and hiding somewhere in
the area.Until the person was found, I did
not believe it was safe for us to have school,”
said Sotlar in stating his justification for
canceling classes for the day districtwide.
There are no plans at this time to change
the district’s response to crisis incidents.
However, Sotlar said he and his team always
engage in an after-action review to assess
what went well and potential changes
that need to be made.
According to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s
Office, early reports that there was
more than one suspect involved in this incident
were determined to be inaccurate by
investigators and there is no known threat
to the community stemming from this incident.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office’s Investigations
Bureau is continuing to investigate
the incident.
17 th Annual
www.columbusmessenger.com
Christmas scenes around CW
Messenger photos by Rick Palsgrove
This festive holiday display graced the grounds of the Canal Winchester Area Historical
Society’s historical complex on North High Street.
Mike Albert
and
The Big E. Band
Per Couple Prices
Overnight Package - $319
Party Only Packages - $250
Single Overnight - $219
Prices include
Dinner, Drinks, Room, Party favors,
Full Breakfast
Crowne Plaza • 6500 Doubletree Ave. (formerly Marriott North)
Santa Claus and his reindeer prepare to take off from Canal Winchester’s Stradley
Park.
Canal Winchester’s
historic interurban
depot
was decked out
in holiday lights
and finery this
season.
The depot is located
near
Stradley Park.