ASHVILLE, Ohio — Village Councilman Colton Henson is facing mounting public pressure to resign following a controversial traffic stop involving his girlfriend, Abby Wright, on Sept. 1. Wright was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OMVI), and body camera footage, first published by The Guardian, captured Henson delivering a profanity-laced tirade toward Ashville law enforcement officers during the incident. Despite public outcry, Henson has refused to step down from his position on the Village Council.
At a recent council meeting, Henson admitted he had been drinking and was frustrated when Wright was arrested. Before the regular meeting began, citizens were allowed to speak during an earlier Committee-of-the-Whole session. However, the video camera had been turned off during that portion of the meeting, leaving their comments unrecorded.
Recognizing this, several citizens requested a second opportunity to speak, this time on the record. After some hesitation from Mayor Steve Welsh, Henson intervened, saying, “Let them say what they want to say,” allowing the public comments to be recorded.
Marian Garner of Circleville criticized Henson’s behavior during the traffic stop, calling it “egregious and disrespectful to law enforcement.” She added, “It was obvious Councilman Henson attempted to use his authority to hinder the officers in the performance of their duties.” Garner demanded that Henson resign immediately.
Other residents echoed similar frustrations. “I was very disappointed with what I saw,” said Karen Stockham of Ashville. “Colton Henson’s attitude towards the Ashville police showed a lack of respect for the law. I am very proud of how the Ashville police handled the situation.”
Patty Hamilton of Stoutsville accused Henson of expecting special treatment, noting that Wright was released from jail within an hour after being cited for OMVI, expired plates, and an invalid driver’s license.
According to another speaker, Rich Ward of Ashville, Henson claimed during the traffic stop that he had called Sheriff Matthew Hafey to intervene, implying he could use his political connections to influence the situation. Hafey later denied any involvement, stating, “I cannot say why Mr. Henson mentioned my name on the scene.” Ward praised Hafey for maintaining his impartiality.
Adding to the tension, Henson’s father, a county commissioner, has reportedly barred local police from the family’s business, a storage unit facility in town, preventing officers from running traffic enforcement on the property.
While Henson has resigned from his position as chief advisor to U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno—who is challenging incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown in the upcoming election—he continues to resist calls for his resignation from the council.
“We the people are demanding a vote from Council to remove Colton Henson from serving out the rest of his term,” said Ward during the meeting. However, no formal action has yet been taken by the council. Mayor Welsh emphasized, “One thing I want everybody to be aware of… is that we do support our law enforcement.”