Tuscarawas County sheriff's deputy hit by vehicle while responding to 300-person 'party'
BUCKS TWP. ‒ A deputy from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office was hit by a vehicle while responding to a complaint about a large party at an Airbnb property, according to investigators.
The deputy is doing well after receiving medical care and an evaluation at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover, according to Detective Lt. Adam Fisher of the sheriff's office.
A 25-year-old Akron woman was charged with felonious assault, resisting arrest, falsification and criminal damaging as a result of the incident, which occurred at a house in the 5100 block of Evans Creek Road SW south of Ragersville. No one else was arrested.
Another property:Shipping container finds new life as Riverside Hideout Airbnb in Tuscarawas Valley
Sheriff Orvis Campbell said deputies who responded to the Saturday night incident found about 300 people along with security guards carrying rifles and wearing body armor. He said some deputies had to get their rifles to make sure they matched firepower. He said the 9mm ammunition deputies typically carry will not penetrate body armor. He said the guards did not threaten deputies.
Large parties at remote Airbnbs have become a concern, according to Campbell. He said people from bigger cities look for remote places where they believe they can avoid detection by law enforcement. People at Saturday's party came from Akron and Canton. He said admission is charged at some such parties, where he believes drugs are often present. Some can draw thousands of people, he said.
The sheriff's office became involved with Saturday's party after being called around 11:03 p.m. by an alarm company. The call initially came in as a fire alarm, Fisher said.
Deputies found a large gathering of people, with a large amount of what was believed to be cigarette smoke triggering the alarm.
More than 250 people at Tuscarawas County party
Fisher said deputies called the property manager, who said the renters were violating their contract and asked that they be removed.
Campbell said only 16 people were supposed to be using the property.
Deputies were trying to remove the visitors when the situation escalated.
“There was alcohol involved, and obviously, with 250-plus people, some tempers can probably flare," Fisher said. "A number of fights broke out inside the house that the deputies were trying to deescalate.”
Campbell said one fight involved 10 to 15 people upstairs.
Fisher said the people involved in altercations were separated and sent home. A deputy stationed himself at the end of the driveway to make sure all departing vehicles had sober drivers.
Fisher said the 25-year-old refused his commands and tried to drive away.
“She ultimately backed her vehicle into the driver’s side door of his vehicle, and in response as he was trying to keep her from driving away, and remove her from her vehicle, she steered her car towards him, striking his left leg and running over his left foot,” Fisher said.
Campbell said deputies cleared the scene in about 35 minutes, and that many people fled.
The suspect was released on her own recognizance after being arraigned in New Philadelphia Municipal Court on Monday. She is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Feb. 23.
The property where the incident occurred was no longer listed on AirBnB on Tuesday.
Times-Reporter photojournalist Andrew Dolph contributed to this story.
Reach Andrew Dolph atadolph3@gannett.com or on Twitter, @andrewdolph.
Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com. On Twitter: @nmolnarTR
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County deputy hit by vehicle; 25-year-old driver arrested
