COLUMBUS, Ohio — A nearly three-week long manhunt ended early this morning with the arrest of a local couple, William P. Riffe II and his fiancé Bobbi Jo Moore, in connection with a June 10 shooting on Villa Drive, according to the Circleville Police Department. The operation was the culmination of tireless work from several law enforcement agencies and valuable information provided by the community.
The incident began when the Circleville Police Department’s Communications Center received a call reporting a disturbance in the residential area. Upon arriving at the scene, officers reported hearing gunshots and were informed that an individual had been shot and the suspected perpetrator had fled.
First responders immediately tended to the victim while other units commenced a manhunt, involving a combined effort of the Circleville Police Department, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Columbus Police Department Aviation, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old William P. Riffe II, a resident of Circleville, who managed to initially evade capture. Over the following weeks, Circleville Police Investigators launched an intensive search operation for Mr. Riffe, aided significantly by tips from the local community.
Earlier today, investigators received a crucial tip that Mr. Riffe was located in Columbus. Acting on the information, they reached out to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.) for assistance.
Riffe and his fiancé, 46-year-old Bobbi Jo Moore, were apprehended in a coordinated operation involving investigators and the S.W.A.T. team.
Mr. Riffe faces serious charges including six counts of Felony 2 Felonious Assault, one count of Felony 2 Improper Discharge of a Weapon into a Habitation, and one count of Felony 3 Weapons Under Disability. His fiancé, Moore, has been charged with Felony 3 Obstructing Official Business.
Both Riffe and Moore were transported to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Jail following their arrest.