FAIRFIELD – Sheriff Department released more information on today’s shooting incident by a school
On December 10, 2021, Deputies from the Fairfield County Sheriff’sOffice Enforcement Bureau were dispatched to the Canal Winchester High School on a report of a motorist operating recklessly in a softball field and causing damage.
Upon arrival, the Deputies located a red pickup truck, which had been stolen out of Columbus, that had crashed into a set of bleachers and sustained heavy front end damage.
While the Deputies were inspecting the vehicle and searching the area for the operator, they heard what they perceived to be gunshots coming from the area behind them. The Deputies turned towards the sound and observed a male standing near their parked cruisers. This male then fled the area on foot quickly.
Additional law enforcement personnel from Lithopolis, Franklin County, Columbus, OSHP, Madison Township, andObetz responded to the scene to assist in the search for the male.
Sometime later during the ensuing investigation, Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office located and apprehended the male as he hid in a wood line south of the Westchester Golf Course. The male, identified as Joseph Brown, was taken into custody and transported to the Franklin County Jail where he was booked on a charge of Criminal Trespassing and a Probation Violation. The Fairfield County Sheriff’s OfficeInvestigations Bureau is continuing to investigate the entire incident.
Early reports that there was more than one suspect involved in this incident were determined to be inaccurate by investigators and there is no known threat to the community stemming from this incident.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office investigations bureau at 740-652-7331 or email [email protected].
