CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A 19-year-old Chillicothe man accused of striking a man in the face with a rifle and threatening to kill him and his family was arrested one week later during a traffic stop, where police say officers recovered two firearms — including a Glock later found during police testing to be capable of automatic fire.
According to reports from the Chillicothe Police Department, Kaidon Rashad Lytle, 19, was taken into custody Aug. 19 after officers located a silver Ford believed to be associated with him on Mechanic Street.
The arrest stemmed in part from an alleged Aug. 10 assault reported to police two days later.
According to Officer Lance Canterbury’s report, the alleged victim told police that Lytle came to his Cedar Street residence between approximately 3:30 and 4 p.m. and demanded that he sign his house over to him to settle a debt.
The man reportedly refused.
Police say the victim alleged Lytle then pulled a rifle, described as a “Draco,” from a bag and struck him on the right side of his face with the muzzle. According to the report, Lytle allegedly made statements including that he could kill the man “right now” while striking him.
The victim further alleged that when he attempted to move toward the door, Lytle threatened to shoot him if he tried to leave. Before leaving the residence, Lytle allegedly threatened to kill the man and his family if he contacted police or anyone else.
Canterbury reported observing bruising around the man’s right eye and minor lacerations. Police also photographed the reported injuries.
The following day, police obtained Ring camera footage from a neighboring residence that Canterbury said showed a silver Ford Fusion pulling into the victim’s driveway at approximately 3:29 p.m. on Aug. 10. Due to the camera’s position, the footage reportedly ended before the driver exited.
Canterbury wrote that Lytle was known to drive a silver Ford Fusion with a temporary registration. Based on the additional evidence, police requested a warrant.
Lytle was wanted on warrants for felonious assault and aggravated menacing when Officer Jonathan Davis reported spotting a silver Ford with a temporary tag on Aug. 19.
Davis said he knew the vehicle was believed to be operated by Lytle and had also been advised that Lytle was believed to carry firearms. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Mechanic Street and ordered the occupants from the vehicle at gunpoint.
Police identified Lytle as the driver and 21-year-old Damarius Lett as the passenger.
According to the report, officers observed a visible 17-round Glock magazine in Lett’s pocket. When asked whether firearms were inside the vehicle, Lett reportedly told officers there were.
Police subsequently reported finding a gold-and-yellow handgun on the center console near the gearshift and a short-barreled rifle-style pistol on the passenger-side floorboard equipped with a Magpul 60-round drum magazine.
Officer Canterbury also reportedly located a 31-round Glock magazine near the passenger seat.
Police said a vehicle inventory also revealed miscellaneous trash and a small amount of suspected marijuana in the center console. Lett was released from the scene, according to the report.
Lytle was transported to the Ross County Jail, where police said he was booked on the outstanding felonious assault and aggravated menacing warrants as well as a weapons-under-disability charge. The report states Lytle was prohibited from possessing firearms due to having previously been adjudicated delinquent on a felony-level drug possession offense.
The firearms investigation continued after the arrest.
According to a supplemental report from Sgt. Christopher McGowan, officers took the recovered weapons to the Dan Garrett Memorial Range on Aug. 19 for testing.
The handgun was identified as a Glock 19 Gen 5, 9mm. McGowan reported that officers noticed the slide lock was missing and that the trigger had what appeared to be a customized lightning-bolt design.
During testing, the Glock initially fired one round when the trigger was pulled. McGowan reported that during another test, the officer held the trigger down and the handgun fired three consecutive rounds before the trigger was released.
McGowan wrote that, based on his training and experience, the handgun contained some form of trigger modification allowing it to fire automatically and that the modification was not factory standard.
The second firearm was identified in the report as an American Tactical AR-15-style pistol chambered in .223 caliber. Police reported that weapon functioned properly during testing.
The Aug. 19 police report lists offenses including having weapons while under disability and unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance. Police indicated the investigation remained ongoing pending potential additional charges and follow-up with the passenger.
The allegations contained in police reports are accusations. Lytle is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
