Ross County — The grand Jury returned 19 of their 20 cases on Friday, February 7th, 2025, with two open for release to the public. From testimony in the the grand jury in one of the cases, according to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office:
On December 23rd, a Ross County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Accurate Heating, Cooling & Plumbing at the north end of River Road in reference to a breaking and entering. An employee there reported that a red Ford vehicle full of construction materials had been stolen on December 22nd.
At about the same time, the Sheriff’s office was notified by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Prisons that a trailer parked in a lot near the Ross Correctional Institution and Unioto Schools had been stolen – and that security video showed the stolen Accurate vehicle was used to take the trailer.
The Sheriff’s office then received a call that the vehicle had been spotted on Cotterman Lane near Londonderry. Then deputies and Ohio State Patrol Troopers saw the vehicle parked in plain view on West Junction Road near the Vinton county line, and it had been altered with spray paint.
At that time, a vehicle was driven by where the driver tried to hide his face. He was stopped and identified, and found to have a warrant for his arrest.
This led to 44-year-old Timothy D. Petitit of Seymour Road near Chillicothe, who was later arrested on January 1st. He admitted he may have touched the stolen vehicle, but said he was never in possession of it.
For an indictment on receiving stolen property, Pettit could get up to 18 months and $5,000 in fines.
