CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A local man was injured in a violent robbery attempt on Thursday afternoon, sustaining a three-inch cut to his forearm after a confrontation with an assailant who fled on a bicycle, according to the Chillicothe Police Department. The suspect, identified as Todd Jacobs, was apprehended shortly after near Poland Park.
Police responded to a call at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday at 130 East 4th Street, apartment 3, following reports of a possible stabbing. The victim, told officers he was attacked by an unknown white male who demanded his money and cell phone.
“I had just paid a friend $40 I owed her and was walking toward the alley when this guy came up,” the victim told police. “He was bald, wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans, and he demanded my money and phone. We fought, and he pushed me against a detached garage, breaking the window.”
During the struggle, the victim said the assailant picked up a piece of broken glass and swung at him, cutting his right forearm near the elbow. “He was swinging and stabbing at me with the glass,” the man recounted. “I got a good few punches in, so he might have some facial injuries.” The victim sustained a three-inch laceration and several smaller cuts but refused medical treatment after being tended to by Chillicothe Fire Department Medic 3.
The victim reported that the suspect fled on a 20-inch BMX-style bicycle toward Sack-N-Save, where he appeared to crash before continuing his escape. Officers canvassed the area but initially found no one matching the description near the store.
A short time later, Officer Monique Lee located a suspect at Poland Park. The individual, identified as Todd Jacobs, was a bald white male with blood on his leg and hands, wearing a red shirt and jean shorts. “When he saw my cruiser, he put his hands up immediately,” Lee said. “He claimed he fell in an alleyway while riding his bike, which caused his injuries.”
Jacobs, who stated he was occasionally homeless and stayed at 126 East 4th Street or along SR 772, provided conflicting accounts of his whereabouts. He was detained, read his Miranda Rights, and transported to the Chillicothe Police Department for questioning by detectives.
A nearby resident corroborated parts of the account. The neighbor reported seeing a bald white male on a 10-speed bike in her yard shortly after the incident. “He was breathing like he was out of breath,” she said said. “I asked him what he was doing, and he took off toward Sack-N-Save.”
Police documented the scene, including the victim’s injuries, a broken window on the detached garage, and a watch found near the structure, which the victim said did not belong to him.
A detective took over the investigation, and Jacobs was held for further questioning. The investigation remains ongoing, with police continuing to gather evidence related to the robbery and assault.
Authorities have not yet released information on potential charges against Jacobs. The Chillicothe Police Department encourages anyone with additional information to contact them.