CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — What began as a reported assault at East Main and Bridge streets ended with both men being warned for disorderly conduct after police said the man who initially reported being attacked admitted he had not been truthful with the investigating officer.
According to a Chillicothe Police Department report, Sergeant Cody Moore was flagged down on August 15 by 43-year-old Rick Cline, who claimed he had just been assaulted.
Cline reportedly told Moore that he was driving east on East Water Street when a vehicle ahead of him stopped abruptly at a stop sign. Cline alleged that a man he knew as “Richie” exited the driver’s seat, approached his window and punched him in the face.
Police identified the other man as 58-year-old Richard Lee Brushart Jr. The report states Cline had a small red mark or cut on his upper lip, which was photographed. Cline requested assault charges, and a witness reportedly confirmed seeing a man exit the first vehicle and strike the man in the second vehicle.
However, the investigation changed after police located Brushart.
Brushart reportedly admitted striking Cline but claimed there was more to the encounter. He told police Cline had been following him and had thrown a cup of soda that landed on the rear passenger side of his vehicle.
Moore reported observing a liquid substance that was still wet and splattered in that area of Brushart’s vehicle.
Police then contacted Cline again and confronted him with the additional information. According to the report, Cline admitted throwing the soda despite leaving that detail out of his original account.
Moore wrote that because Cline had lied to him during the initial interview, Cline’s credibility in the case was damaged.
Instead of pursuing the incident solely as the assault initially reported by Cline, police warned both Cline and Brushart separately for disorderly conduct and closed the investigation.
The encounter also resulted in an unrelated arrest. Police said 39-year-old Sunshine Marie Eblin, who was with Brushart, was found to have an active warrant. She was taken to the Ross County Jail and served with a secret indictment warrant for possession of drugs. Her booking on August 15 is also reflected in publicly available Ross County booking information.
All individuals charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
