CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a case of inducing panic following the activation of a fire alarm at the county Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) on October 21. Emergency crews were dispatched to the Ross County Service Center, located at 475 Western Avenue, after the alarm was triggered.
Upon arrival, fire crews discovered that the fire alarm panel at the BMV had been manually pulled. As a precaution, much of the building, which houses several key offices, including The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ross County Board of Elections, was evacuated.
According to the sheriff’s report, deputies attempted to review security footage of the incident. However, a deputy noted that a “piece of paper on the door glass directly in front of the panel” obstructed the camera’s view, complicating efforts to identify the individual responsible for pulling the alarm.
Officials contacted Deputy Registrar and former Ross County Sheriff Ron Nichols, who stated that he would also review footage from the BMV’s cameras to assist in the investigation.
No further details have been released as the investigation continues.
