CHILLICOTHE, OH — A man found passed out inside a vehicle at a Chillicothe Taco Bell was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly refusing to identify himself and resisting officers, according to a Chillicothe Police Department report. The investigation also led officers to a woman who alleged the man had punched her in the face after she told him he needed to get a job.
Joseph Martin Wright, 24, was booked into the Ross County Jail on August 24 on charges of resisting arrest and obstructing official business.
According to the police report, officers were dispatched at approximately 2:45 a.m. to the Taco Bell at 1040 N. Bridge Street for a suspicious vehicle/welfare check. Officers located a Kia SUV with its driver’s-side door open and a man, later identified as Wright, apparently passed out in the driver’s seat.
Officer Kyle Curry reported Wright was slow to wake up and that officers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle and from Wright. Officers repeatedly asked him to identify himself. According to the report, Wright initially provided only the name “Joe” and, when asked for his last name, allegedly responded “Joe” again or told officers “a direction.”
Police said Wright was asked to step out of the vehicle while officers attempted to determine who he was and why he was in a vehicle registered to someone else.
According to the report, Wright continued refusing to provide his full identity and attempted to return to the driver’s seat. When officers moved to arrest him for obstructing official business, police allege Wright pulled away, tensed his body and tucked his arms underneath himself as officers attempted to place him in handcuffs.
After what police described as a brief struggle, officers secured Wright in handcuffs. Police said he then provided his full name.
The investigation took another turn when officers contacted the registered owner of the vehicle, who told police she was at Planet Fitness and had the vehicle’s keys.
When officers met with the owner, they reported observing a significant black eye, redness around the eye and that she appeared visibly shaken and on edge.
According to the report, she told officers she had picked Wright up from his grandmother’s residence and was driving him back when the two began arguing. The witness reportedly told police that Wright had been drinking and that after she told him he needed to get a job, he became angry and struck her on the side of the face while she was driving.
Police reported the alleged strike caused the injury to the females right eye.
The witness told officers she was able to pull into the Taco Bell parking lot, where Wright eventually passed out. She then allegedly took the vehicle’s keys so he could not drive and walked to Planet Fitness.
An employee at Planet Fitness also reportedly told police that the witness entered the gym around 1 a.m. with a black eye, appeared visibly shaken and eventually disclosed that Wright had struck her. According to the report, the employee said the witness told staff she was afraid of Wright and had gone to the gym to get away from him.
The witness declined at that time to pursue charges or complete a written witness statement, according to police. Officers photographed her injuries for evidence.
Wright was transported to the Ross County Jail and booked on resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Jail records provided to Hopewell Heritage Headlines show a $2,000 cash-or-surety bond listed on the obstructing charge, while the resisting arrest charge was listed as a holder.
The police report lists the incident as cleared by arrest.
The allegations described in the police report are accusations and do not constitute a finding of guilt. Wright is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
