In an ironic turn of events, a routine call about suspicious activity in Chillicothe revealed not a crime in progress, but an outstanding warrant from another county.
Chillicothe Police Department officers responded to a third-party report on March 14, 2026, of a man digging a hole near an electrical box in the 300 block of East Water Street. Upon arrival, Officer Arbogast made contact with Shawn Bear, who was assisting the homeowner at 381 East Water Street by excavating a water line. Bear provided his Ohio ID card, and a check through dispatch uncovered an active felony warrant from Butler County for breaking and entering, issued on July 10, 2025.
With the warrant confirmed, Bear was arrested and transported to the Ross County Jail. He was transferred to jail staff pending his appearance in Chillicothe Municipal Court at 9 a.m. today, March 16, 2026. No local charges were filed related to the digging, which was legitimate.
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