HILLSBORO, Ohio — A Highland County man was taken into custody early Sept. 9 after a deputy said he fled a bicycle stop, refused to drop a machete, resisted a K9 and two taser deployments, and was found with suspected drugs, according to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office.
A sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol in Liberty Township saw two men standing with bicycles near a business at about 4:12 a.m. Sept. 9, the sheriff’s office said. As the deputy approached, one man walked his bicycle into the business while the other, later identified as David M. Lawhun, rode away on an electric-powered bicycle, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputy watched Lawhun operating the electric bicycle on sidewalks and roadways at a high rate of speed and stopped him, the sheriff’s office said. A machete was found secured to the bicycle between Lawhun’s legs, and the deputy directed him to step away from both the bike and the weapon, according to the release.
When the deputy asked if Lawhun had additional weapons, he said he did not, the sheriff’s office said. During a pat-down for officer safety, the deputy felt a large, bulging object near Lawhun’s chest, and when asked whether it was a knife, Lawhun lowered his arms and reached toward it, according to the release.
Deputies attempted to secure Lawhun’s arms, but he resisted, tried to flee, kept reaching toward the concealed object in his coat and began reaching toward a deputy, the sheriff’s office said. A K9, identified as Argo, was deployed and engaged Lawhun’s arm to bring him to the ground and prevent him from fleeing, according to the release.
Lawhun continued reaching into his coat despite repeated commands and a warning that a taser would be used, the sheriff’s office said. One deputy’s taser deployment was not effective, and a second deputy’s taser also failed to stop him, according to the release. Lawhun eventually raised his hands and, after further commands, rolled onto his stomach, but then grabbed hold of the K9’s upper body, the sheriff’s office said. A deputy used a drive-stun taser technique to halt the resistance, and Lawhun was taken into custody with help from a responding Hillsboro Police Department officer, according to the release. The K9 released on command once Lawhun was handcuffed.
A search of the coat pocket Lawhun had been reaching toward turned up suspected drug paraphernalia, two small bags containing a crystalline substance, suspected marijuana and rolling papers, the sheriff’s office said. The suspected controlled substance was submitted for laboratory testing, and additional charges may be sought depending on the results, according to the release.
Lawhun was evaluated and medically cleared before being taken to the Highland County Jail, where he was charged with obstructing official business, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia, the sheriff’s office said. He was released the same day on an own-recognizance bond issued by Hillsboro Municipal Court, according to the release.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Highland County Sheriff’s Office.
