On August 24, 2024 at approximately 11:57 am, Darke County Deputies along with Versailles Fire, Versailles Rescue and the Darke County Coroner responded to the 9100 Block of State Route 121 on a single vehicle dirt bike accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a green Kawasaki 250x was operated by Wyatt Reese (14), of Bradford. Reese was traveling north in the side ditch parallel with State Route 121. Reese lost control and struck a utility pole. After the collision Reese was ejected from the motorcycle. Reese was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. As a result of the injuries sustained, Wyatt Reese succumb to his injuries at the scene of the accident. This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff's office and the Darke County Coroner's office. Contact: Deputy K. Sullivan (937) 548-2020

On March 14, 2024 at 8:00 PM, the National Weather Service for Darke County, Ohio issued a tornado warning. At approximately 8:15 PM, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office received reports on funnel clouds and a possible tornado on the ground in the area of St. Rt. 571 east of Union City, Ohio. At 8:34 PM, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office started receiving multiple calls reporting structural damage to trailers, homes, and other structures. Reports of injuries and entrapments also came in. Multiple Fire & Rescue agencies in Darke County were dispatched to the area along with Darke County Deputies and other first responders. The damage appears to follow a path across Darke County, Ohio West to East from Union City to Bradford. Multiple homes and structures are reported damaged on State Route 571, Cox Rd, Fox Rd., and Horatio Harris Creek Rd. from State Route 49 to Bradford, Ohio. First responders searched houses and structures in the path of the storm across the entire county. Some rescues of entrapped people were effected and at least two people have been transported by EMS to Wayne Healthcare with non-life threatening injuries. There are NO reported fatalities at this time. Some roads in the affected area have been closed and will be patrolled throughout the night by Deputies. Darke County Emergency Management, Fire Rescue agencies and Deputies are planning for damage assessment to start in the morning during daylight hours. The public is advised to stay out of the area for their own safety and the security of the local residents.

These annual reports provide statistical information about the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. It is important that we provide you with as much information as possible about the Sheriff’s Office and the work the employees perform during the year.

On January 17th, 2024 at approximately 1:33 p.m. Darke County Deputies along with Ansonia Fire, Ansonia Rescue, and CareFlight were dispatched to the 9100 block of State Route 118, Ansonia, Ohio 45303 in reference to an accident with injury. Preliminary investigation revealed a silver 2016 KIA Forte, driven by William Clark (29) of Ansonia, was traveling north on State Route 118. Mr. Clark lost control of his vehicle on the snowy and icy road conditions. This caused Mr. Clark to travel across the center line and off the left side of the roadway. Mr. Clark's vehicle came to rest after striking a tree. Mr. Clark was transported to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff's Office.

On January 15, 2024 at approximately 4:50 p.m. a Darke County Deputy drove up on the scene of a serious injury crash that had just occurred at the intersection of US Route 127 and Childrens Home- Bradford Road. Other responding agencies were Greenville Police, Greenville City Fire, Greenville Township Fire and Rescue, and Darke County Coroner's Office. Preliminary investigation revealed a gold 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Terek Salama 63, of Bradford, was traveling eastbound on Childrens Home-Bradford Road and stopped at the intersection of US Route 127. This vehicle then attempted to cross the intersection eastbound colliding with gray 2004 Dodge truck traveling northbound on US Route 127, driven by Randall Hellrigel 22, of Dayton. The Dodge truck then drove off the right side of the roadway rolling over onto its passenger side. The front seat passenger of the truck, Jacob Greer 22, of Miamisburg was pronounced dead at the scene and rear passengers Kellie Bowman 22, of Dayton and female child were transported to Wayne HealthCare for possible minor injuries. Mr. Salama was not injured. This accident remains under investigation.

On January 10, 2024 at approximately 1:54 p.m. Darke County Deputies along with Gettysburg Fire and Arcanum Rescue responded to the intersection of Hogpath Road and Byreley Road for a vehicle crash with injury. Preliminary investigation revealed a 1998 John Deere tractor pulling an enclosed trailer driven by Kyle Grim 21, of Arcanum was traveling eastbound on Hogpath Road and had slowed down to make a left turn onto Byreley Road.  While attempting to turn, a 2007 gray Chevy Aveo driven by Jayden Rogers 18, of Pleasant Hill, was also traveling eastbound and was attempting to pass the tractor on the left.  Rogers struck the left front tire of the tractor causing her vehicle to travel partially off the left side of the road and then rolling over onto its top off the right side of the roadway.   Rogers was taken to Wayne HealthCare for suspected minor injuries.   Grim was uninjured.

On December 27, 2023, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Police Departments from Arcanum, Greenville, Union City, and Versailles, and the Adult Parole Authority, verified addresses of the sex offenders in Darke County. While verification is an ongoing process throughout the year by Deputies on patrol, a mass verification is an efficient way to establish sex offender address verification and focus on those subjects that need appropriate follow-up to ensure the safety of our community. There are 100 registered sex offenders in Darke County. All of those offenders’ addresses were checked and 82 were verified this morning. The other 17 offenders were checked, but contact was not made with those offenders. There are a variety of reasons why contact was not made, including the subject was at a place of employment, traveling, refusal to answer the door, and/or absconded. Deputies from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office will follow up and verify the addresses of the remaining offenders. Any offenders found not to be in compliance with the law will be investigated and charges will be presented to the Darke County Prosecutor’s Office for review. More information regarding sex offenders can be found on our webpage, darkecountysheriff.org. Anyone with questions about this project may contact the Darke County Sheriff’s Office at (937) 548-1193 and direct your call to Stacey.

On December 21, 2023 at approximately 4:47 PM Darke County Deputies along with Tri Village Rescue, New Madison Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to intersection of State Route 121 and US Route 36 west in reference to an injury accident Preliminary investigation revealed a maroon 2010 GMC Acadia was traveling southbound on State Route 121 approaching US Route 36 west.  The vehicle traveled through the roundabout striking a road sign.  The vehicle then traveled off the right side of the roadway coming to rest in a ditch. Eye witnesses to the accident stopped to render aid to the elderly male driver, whom was unresponsive in the driver’s seat.  The driver was removed from the vehicle and CPR was started without success. The male driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.  The male driver was transported to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for a forensic examination to determine the cause of death. This Accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office and the Darke County Coroner’s Office. __________ Update​​ On 12/26/2023 at approximately 1:50 PM the Darke County Coroner's Office advised the elderly male driver was identified as, Larry G. Eley (73) of Greenville.  Mr. Eley suffered a medical emergency while driving and his death was not as a result of a motor vehicle accident. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office ruled Mr. Eley died of natural causes.

On December 22, 2023 at approximately 6:36 a.m. Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire and Rescue and Greenville City Fire and CareFlight, responded to the 8000 block of US Route 127 for a two-vehicle head-on injury crash. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2008 tan Nissan Altima driven by Kyle Schwieterman 35, of Celina was traveling southbound on US Route 127 when his vehicle traveled left of center and collided head-on with a 2015 maroon Ford Escape driven by Reece Hicks 20, of Arcanum.  Hicks did attempt to swerve to avoid the collision.  Schwieterman was transported to Miami Valley Hospital aboard CareFlight, and Hicks was transported to Wayne Health. This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff's Office. Contact:  Sgt. Mills 937-548-2020

On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at approximately 1:47 PM, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Drug Investigation Unit and Road Deputies, along with the assistance of Greenville Police Department, executed a search warrant at 7713 US 36 E. Bradford, Darke County, OH. Joseph Brown, age 44, and Jessica Keily, age 42, of Bradford, OH were arrested and booked into the Darke County Jail after locating methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia items. Joseph Brown is charged with the following offenses: 1. Trafficking in Drugs (Fentanyl), a felony of the 1st degree 2. Trafficking in Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the 2nd degree 3. Possession of Drugs (Fentanyl), a felony of the 1st degree. 4. Possession of Drugs(Methamphetamine), a felony of the 2nd degree Jessica Keily is charged with the following offenses: 1. Possession of Drugs (Fentanyl), a felony of the 1st degree. 2. Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the 2nd degree The Darke County Sheriff’s Office is working diligently to rid the community of these dangerous drugs and urges its citizens to continue to aid our Deputies and the Drug Investigation Unit by providing information on drug traffickers/users in our area. You can contact us at 937-548-2020.

On November 17, 2023 at approximately 2:11 PM, Darke County Deputies along with Greenville City fire, Greenville Township Fire, Greenville Rescue and Union City Rescue, were dispatched to State Route 502 and New Madison Coletown Road in reference to an accident with injuries. Preliminary investigation revealed a Freightliner straight truck driven by Lys-Allen Michel Theophile (32) of Miramar, Florida was traveling south bound on New Madison Coletown Road when he failed to yield the right of way after a stop sign to an east bound Ford F-350 utility truck driven by Michael J. Stump (45) of Union City, Indiana, causing the straight truck to overturn off of the roadway. Mr. Stump was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated by mechanical means. Mr. Theophile and his passenger, Clifford Jean Mathieu, were transported to Wayne Healthcare for suspected minor injuries. Mr. Stump was transported by Greenville Rescue to Phillipsburg where they met the Mobile Intensive Care Unit. The MICU then transported Mr. Stump to the Miami Valley Hospital. Mr. Stump’s condition is unknown at this time. This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.