Chillicothe — The Ross County Grand Jury returned all 19 of their cases on Friday, March 15th, 2024, with 10 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 February 26th, a Chillicothe Police officer was dispatched to Menard’s in reference to a theft. 52-year-old Ronald J. Anderson of Piketon had a store knife that was out of its package; presumably the folding knife was not open at the time. He was with a woman.
Anderson ran from the officer, but was caught. The woman was arrested because she kept giving different and false names for him.
Both were placed in the police cruiser and taken to the Ross County Law Enforcement Center, with the cruiser parked in the “sally port,” a garage-like bay next to the alley.
But Anderson had a handcuff key hanging on his necklace. He unlocked himself, and told the woman that he was going to hold her hostage and try to escape. He did not say he was going to pretend. (Chillicothe police cruisers have a video and audio feed of the back seat.)
He grabbed her by the head and neck and would not let go until he was tased and removed from the cruiser. His handcuff key was later found in his dentures.
The woman was charged only with with a misdemeanor, but for indictments on second degree felony kidnapping and fifth degree felony escape, Anderson could get up to 20 years and $17,500 in fines.
