Man indicted in connection with P&G threats

Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Cincinnati police officers outside the Procter & Gamble offices in downtown Cincinnati on the morning of May 18. P&G closed the building after they contacted the police about a security concern.

The man police say was responsible for the threats that shut down the Procter & Gamble headquarters Downtown Wednesday has been indicted.

Benjamin Wood, 30, is charged with two felony counts of inducing panic. If convicted he could face up to 18 months in prison.

The Kenton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday it received information about threats to P&G and turned that information over to Cincinnati police. In response, the company made the decision to close its offices.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said Friday that Wood was a former P&G employee fired in 2021.

Deters said Wood made a statement that he would “shut down the world via Cincinnati tomorrow.”

Law enforcement said Wood had access to firearms.

Wood was located at his home in Kenton County and taken into custody by the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday afternoon, Deters said.

"We have seen too many individuals suffering from severe mental illness not be identified before something terrible happens," Deters said. "Fortunately, the criminal justice system has the resources to work with those suffering from mental illness to try to prevent a tragedy from occurring.”

The Enquirer obtained a Cincinnati police "officer safety bulletin" issued May 17 that states a Wood "had been texting several people about going to P&G and taking over."

According to the bulletin, family members told police Wood suffers from mental illness. Wood was fired for not returning to the office after the company phased out COVID-19 guidelines that allowed employees to work from home, the document said.

Covington police reported they have had prior contact with the Wood.

"He has made similar, generalized threats against the police and others," Lt. Col. Brian Valenti said. "They are misdemeanors and were not observed by police so he was not charged as is the law in [Kentucky]."

About 4,000 employees work out of the downtown headquarters of the multinational company. Typically, about 50% work from home midweek.

The maker of consumer staples such as Tide laundry detergent, Gillette razors and Pampers diapers, P&G employs 101,000 worldwide, including 10,000 in Greater Cincinnati.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Procter & Gamble threats: Man indicted after downtown offices closed