ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Monday night marked the culmination of a significant law enforcement operation in Ross County, leading to the arrest of the dangerous fugitive George Hamblin. The operation carried out under the veil of darkness involved deputies from the Ross County Sheriff’s office and was deemed a success near the area of Knockemstiff and Summit Hill. While the exact details surrounding Hamblin’s capture were not shared, authorities acknowledged that tips from the community were instrumental in the operation.
This arrest follows an intense statewide manhunt initiated after Hamblin assaulted a Ross County deputy last Friday on the 1400 block of Camelin Hill Road. The incident, which occurred around 6 p.m. as the deputy responded to a call, saw Hamblin overpower the deputy and despite being tased twice, managed to flee into the nearby woods post a distress call for backup.
In the ensuing days, law enforcement from multiple units, aided by aviation resources from the Highway Patrol and bloodhounds, tirelessly scoured the area. The Guardian, taking cognizance of the escalating situation and the threat Hamblin posed, offered a reward of $1,500 for information leading to his arrest.
Described as 6’1″, weighing 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, Hamblin bears a tattoo of his last name on his right forearm. The establishment of a hotline and the offered reward were strategies aimed at leveraging community assistance in apprehending Hamblin to ensure the public’s safety.
The assaulted deputy suffered no severe injuries, yet the episode added urgency to the existing statewide search for Hamblin, who already had numerous active arrest warrants. A woman present at the scene of the assault was briefly detained on unrelated warrants but was subsequently released.
In a forthcoming press release scheduled for Tuesday, Sheriff George Lavender is expected to divulge more details regarding the operation that led to Hamblin’s capture. Lavender had earlier urged the public to exercise extreme caution and to report any sightings of Hamblin through the established hotline immediately.
The successful capture of Hamblin symbolizes a significant victory for local law enforcement and the Ross County community, which united against the threat amidst challenging times.
