Ross County law enforcement teamed together to end a two-hour standoff, peacefully, Wednesday afternoon.
Ross County Sheriff George Lavender reports that his office received information from the U.S. Marshal’s Office that 34-year-old Joshua L. Leach, who had a federal warrant for Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute a Controlled Substance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, could possibly be at a residence in the 300 block of Fyffe Hollow Road.
Investigators from the Ross County Sheriff’s office obtained a search warrant for the residence, where personnel from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Chillicothe Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Office, and Ohio State Patrol set up a perimeter around the residence where Leach barricaded himself inside.
A negotiator from the Chillicothe Police was able to establish communication with Leach, who remained inside the house for approximately two hours. The negotiator was able to get Mr. Leach to peacefully surrender. He was taken into custody and transported to the Ross County Jail.
Leach is the last of seven people charged in a southwest Ohio methamphetamine ring is behind bars. Leach was indicted this week after a raid near Dayton led investigators to nearly 200 pounds of meth, fentanyl and heroin.
Sheriff Lavender expressed his appreciation to the multiples agencies involved that helped bring this incident to a peaceful resolution. Also to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office who had personnel on the way.