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Jun 15, 2023

Multiple Agencies Team Up on Arrest in Tiltonsville

Jun 7, 2023 Law enforcement from Jefferson and Belmont counties return to an

Jun 7, 2023

Law enforcement from Jefferson and Belmont counties return to an apparent staging area on Warren Street in Rayland after making an arrest in Tiltonsville. The man was reportedly heavily armed and had made videos threatening to kill police. Ballistic vests and rifles were reportedly found at the residence. (Photo by Robert A. DeFrank)

TILTONSVILLE — Law enforcement officers from across Belmont County joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department in making an arrest in Tiltonsville late Tuesday afternoon.

They were heavily armed and taking no chances.

Police cruisers from the Belmont County Sheriff's Department and the Barnesville, St. Clairsville, Bellaire and Shadyside police departments were parked at an apparent staging area on Warren Street in Rayland. The officers who had arrived in those cruisers apparently traveled from there to the scene in Tiltonsville with a special response team from Jefferson County and were later seen returning to their cruisers and packing up their gear.

They appeared to be heavily armed upon their return.

People who had stopped at a nearby Dairy Queen observed the officers and an armored vehicle.

Thomas Poluga of Tiltonsville said the mobilization was impressive.

"A lot of sheriff's department vehicles, and then there were some police department vehicles," Poluga said. "It was probably, there were around 20 vehicles altogether. Some of them left I think. … That armored vehicle, it was imposing."

Shelby Nagler of Yorkville saw them pulling out.

"They were actually pulling out and I passed them on the road," she said. "They were all in their SWAT gear, they were all helmeted up. They had all the gear and the big vehicle and everything."

When the officers returned, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. was at the scene. He said one man had been arrested.

"There was a gentleman in Tiltonsville that had been charged out of Belmont County, had an arrest warrant for him and we also had a search warrant for the home, so we went and we went ahead and served that warrant today," he said, adding that numerous local agencies as well as law enforcement from Belmont County took part. "Belmont County special response team also assisted with our special response team."

Abdalla said the man is charged with inducing panic and aggravated menacing. He said the charges and the arrest warrant were issued out of Belmont County.

"He was making some videos that went viral where he was threatening to kill police officers and kill anyone that comes to his home, so we wanted to make sure. We take everything serious, but we brought the equipment we brought just to make sure everyone went home safe. Even though it looks like a lot of equipment, we really did it pretty surgically as far as getting in there, getting him in custody and getting out," Abdalla said.

"Everything went according to plan and there was no one hurt or injured," he said. "There were weapons seized at the home – ballistic vests and other type of military-style equipment. There were multiple rifles, AR-15s and pistols."

Chief Deputy James Zusack with the Belmont County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the arrest was made and said the man was a resident of Jefferson County.

"Jefferson County and Belmont County, we went together on this arrest warrant that we issued," he said. "The male is in custody and is going to be transferred to our jail."

Neither Abdalla nor Zusack released the man's identity on Tuesday, but Zusack said additional information likely will be released today.

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