CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A domestic dispute escalated dramatically when officers attempted to apprehend Richard Rowland Jr., a man known to law enforcement for having an active felony arrest warrant.
Upon arriving at the scene, Chillicothe Police Officers were informed that Rowland had allegedly threatened to use a firearm during the dispute. Rowland was later located hiding in a shed after fleeing the scene. During the arrest, Rowland resisted, refusing to comply with officers’ commands. While in custody, Rowland made several violent threats towards officers, stating he would have shot one in the face if he had been armed. He further asserted that he would have taken on the officers physically.
Rowland’s resistance continued as officers attempted to secure him in a patrol vehicle. He became physically aggressive, making attempts to kick officers. After being detained in the cruiser, Rowland began to harm himself by banging his head against the vehicle’s glass partition and cage, leading an officer to deploy OC spray as a preventative measure.
Rowland was arrested on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of receiving stolen property based on an active felony indictment warrant. He now faces additional charges of obstructing official business and resisting arrest.
In a related discovery, a credit card belonging to Loyce Davis was found on Rowland’s person. Davis confirmed knowing Rowland but clarified he had no permission to possess her card. She chose not to press further charges, and the card was subsequently destroyed by law enforcement.