February 23

1:59 p.m. The loss prevention officer at Kohl’s reported that, the day before, video surveillance recorded a man filling a cart with $1,261.50 worth of merchandise and then leaving the store without paying.

3:26 a.m. Police pulled over an Infiniti JX35 at BP for a missing headlight and license plate light. The vehicle’s registration was expired, and the driver told police his license had been suspended.

February 24

1:33 a.m. A police cruiser on Interstate 70 followed a Hyundai sedan traveling 55 mph in a 65-mph zone. The vehicle, which did not have a properly displayed license plate, exited onto Hill Road and reportedly turned right onto Tussing Road from the center lane. At that point, the officer activated the cruiser’s overhead lights, and the vehicle pulled into the KFC lot.

As he approached the Hyundai, the officer reportedly witnessed the 41-year-old driver moving excessively inside the vehicle. When questioned, the man said he was traveling to New Jersey for carpentry work, although no tools or luggage were visible.

The man wore a necklace with a charm of La Santa Muerte, which he said was for “protection.” Santa Muerte is the Mexican saint of death, often depicted as a cloaked skeleton. She is associated with protection and safe passage and has become a prominent icon for cartels and drug smugglers.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered drug paraphernalia, cash, a crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine, a bag of pressed white powder, and a bag of pills marked as Oxycodone. At the station, the suspect allegedly told police that an unknown man approached him in Indianapolis and gave him $300 to deliver drugs to another man in New Jersey.

9:20 a.m. A 60-year-old man reportedly used a fake $100 bill at Petland to purchase fish and fish supplies. The bill read “For Motion Picture Purposes” and “In Prop We Trust.”

11:35 a.m. The 24-year-old driver of a Nissan Altima was cited for driving under a suspended license, having no insurance, and expired tags after her vehicle allegedly rear-ended another Nissan Altima on Hill Road near Stonecreek Drive South.

12:54 p.m. A 36-year-old man in the Graystone neighborhood told police that about an hour earlier, he had been in the garage taking “a couple hits of his Black & Mild” when he decided to go upstairs to “clean up.” He thought he had extinguished the cigar in a box, but later smelled smoke and realized the garage had caught fire. Everyone was evacuated safely.

3:24 p.m. An 18-year-old woman was cited for driving without a license after the Kia K5 she was driving collided with a GMC Sienna while she was attempting to change lanes on Diley Road.

February 25

5:51 p.m. An Audi A8 was reportedly stolen from outside Power Shack Fitness Center.

5:58 p.m. After pulling over a BMW 740 for driving 53 mph in a 35-mph zone on Long Road, an officer cited the 19-year-old female driver for expired registration, no insurance, and driving under suspension.

February 26

5:40 a.m. An unknown person cut a security cable outside Tractor Supply Co. and stole two minibikes with a total value of $1,799.98.

February 27

10:42 a.m. Police arrested a 54-year-old man on a warrant after the Toyota Sienna he was driving turned left onto Hill Road from Diley Road while the traffic light was red.

3:43 p.m. An 11-year-old boy walking his rottweiler in the Reserve at Pickerington Ponds lost control of the dog, which attacked another 11-year-old boy. The dog reportedly knocked the boy to the ground and began to drag him. Eventually, the owner was able to pull the dog back. The victim’s mother transported her son to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he was treated for injuries to his back and shoulder.

5:37 p.m. In Pickerington Hills, a six-year-old girl was playing outside with her eight-year-old friend when it began to rain. A neighbor was watching her while her mother was at work. Instead of returning to the babysitter’s house, the girl went home and invited her friend inside. While playing with the family’s pit bull, the dog suddenly attacked the friend. The six-year-old ran to the Norris family’s house yelling for help.

Evan Norris and his brother Dylan rushed to the scene and found the dog “mauling” the child’s arm. Dylan held the dog while Evan sprayed it with pepper spray. That worked. Evan scooped up the injured girl and ran with her back to his home. Once clear, Dylan released the dog and secured the door.

Police arrived at the Norris home to find a bloody trail leading from the front door to a chair where the girl sat. The brothers had wrapped her arm in a towel and were applying constant pressure. Violet Township medics soon arrived and took over. The girl began to go into shock and lost consciousness. Medics transported her to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she was treated for “severe trauma to her face and right arm.”
Police located the mothers of both girls. The owner of the pit bull was informed that the dog would need to be quarantined for 10 days for observation. The nine-year-old terrier had not been licensed for several years and was not current on vaccinations.

An officer thanked the Norris brothers for their fast actions, crediting them with saving the girl’s life.

6:02 p.m. The driver of a Dodge Journey pulled onto the berm of westbound Interstate 70 after the vehicle began to slow unexpectedly. After stopping, she noticed an unusual smell and black smoke coming from under the hood. The Dodge caught fire, and Violet Township firefighters responded to the scene.

February 28

3:35 a.m. Someone broke the window of a Dodge in the Stonebridge neighborhood and partially dismantled the dash.

8:22 a.m. The manager at Tractor Supply Co. reported that a trailer had been stolen overnight.

March 1

1:19 a.m. An officer stopped a Nissan Rogue on Hill Road near Blacklick Eastern Road and cited the 41-year-old driver for reportedly driving without headlights. Because her 44-year-old passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, the officer asked for her ID as well. The passenger was wanted on a felony warrant out of Franklin County.

2:25 p.m. A 26-year-old man, his 17-year-old sister, and their 26-year-old male friend were charged after allegedly trespassing into the Coyote Run State Nature Preserve. The group reportedly told officers they ignored the “No Trespassing” signs because they believed the property belonged to the city.

Police Reports February 14-22, 2025