Theft ring busted on Chillicothe's east side

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A surge of criminal activity disrupted the 1000 block of Diehl Street over the weekend, as multiple burglaries, thefts, and a police standoff led to arrests and the recovery of stolen property. Over a chaotic 48-hour period, law enforcement responded to a string of thefts, break-ins, and a SWAT operation, escalating concerns about persistent crime in the area.

Chainsaw Theft Sparks Investigation

The crime spree began on Saturday night, February 8, when a Husqvarna chainsaw was reported stolen from a resident’s garage. Surveillance footage captured a white male in a dark jacket, sweatpants, and thick-rimmed glasses entering the property around 11:00 p.m., taking the chainsaw, and searching the yard before leaving.

By Sunday morning, February 9, the stolen chainsaw had reportedly resurfaced just a few doors down, where a man attempted to sell it to a neighbor.

Burglary at Another Residence in the 1000 Block

As officers investigated the chainsaw theft, another major burglary was discovered. A resident reported that storage sheds on their property had been broken into overnight. The locks had been forced open, and several high-value items were missing, including:

Two crossbows
A Sentry safe containing paperwork
Four brand-new tires
A wood chipper

A screwdriver was found near the broken locks, which police noted as potential evidence. Surveillance cameras on the property were not operational at the time of the theft.

Later that day, a neighbor reported that someone from another home in the 1000 block had attempted to sell the stolen chainsaw. The resident also spotted their Bluetooth speaker, one of the stolen items, leaning against a fence outside the suspect’s property.

Police Confront Suspects

By 7:00 p.m. Saturday, Chillicothe Police officers arrived at a home in the 1000 block of Diehl Street to investigate.

As officers approached, two men stepped outside. One, wearing a ski mask, turned back inside upon seeing police.
The homeowner denied that anyone inside was wearing a ski mask but later changed the story, stating it was a toboggan hat instead.
While securing the perimeter, an officer spotted a man in the backyard near a shed matching the description of the chainsaw theft suspect.

When police attempted to approach, the man waved them off and re-entered the shed.

Suspect Found Hiding in Shed

Authorities identified the suspect, Willard Allison, as a wanted man with warrants. After repeated commands to exit, he refused, prompting officers to draw their weapons for safety.

Officers forced entry into the shed, finding the suspect hiding under a pile of bicycle parts.
He refused to move, claiming injury, but was eventually pulled from the debris, placed in handcuffs, and read his Miranda Rights.
Inside the shed, police found a Bluetooth speaker matching the one stolen from the burglary, linking him directly to the crime.

Standoff with SWAT and Ross County Sheriff’s Office

While officers were securing the first suspect, another man, Michael Byrd, inside the residence refused to come out. He was already wanted for questioning in a separate theft case under investigation by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office.

SWAT officers were called in to assist.
Neighboring homes were warned of potential danger, though police were unable to reach an elderly resident at another property.
As officers waited, two additional individuals exited the home and were briefly detained.

After securing a search warrant, SWAT entered the home and took the barricaded suspect into custody without further incident. However, none of the stolen property from the burglary was found inside.

Additional Stolen Property Discovered at Another Location

As police cleared the scene, officers followed another lead to another residence in the 1000 block, where a shed on the property was found covered with blankets and partially locked.

The homeowners allowed police to search the shed, leading to a major breakthrough.
Inside, officers discovered a stash of stolen items, including:
- Four brand-new tires (matching the burglary report)
- Two crossbows
- A Predator wood chipper
- A Troy Bilt snowblower
- A Sentry safe that had been pried open

Police also found a hypodermic needle, a coat belonging to the first suspect, and a wallet containing CashApp cards linked to different individuals.

Arrests and Charges

Following the weekend’s events, multiple individuals were arrested:

Willard Patrick Allison and Michael Byrd were both taken into custody on:
- Breaking and entering
- Obstructing official business
- Vandalism
Two other individuals were detained but later released.