ASHVILLE, OH — For the first time in months, the Ashville Police Department is back to full strength at the top. Chief Bryan Cline and Captain Casey Thress officially returned to duty today following a grand jury review of a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place early this year.
The return marks the end of an administrative leave period that began following the January 20, 2026, incident at Ashville Country Estates.
The January 20th Incident
The shooting occurred at a mobile home park in the 4800 block of Duvall Road, situated between Ashville and Rickenbacker International Airport. At approximately 2:51 PM, a chaotic scene unfolded after the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a sexual assault in progress.
Deputies, along with officers from Ashville and South Bloomfield, converged on the home. According to investigative reports, law enforcement made contact with a male suspect who had already discharged a firearm. When the suspect raised his weapon toward the responding officers, police opened fire.
The suspect was transported to a Columbus-area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Cleared by Grand Jury
In accordance with standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, Chief Cline and Captain Thress were placed on administrative leave while the case was investigated and presented to a grand jury.
The legal process concluded this week when the Grand Jury returned a “no bill,” a formal decision that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges against the officers, effectively ruling the use of force as justified under the circumstances.
A Pickaway County Deputy also involved in the incident had previously returned to duty several months ago.
Resuming Service
With the legal cloud lifted, Chief Cline and Captain Thress have resumed their full duties serving the Ashville community. Village officials expressed that the return of the department’s veteran leadership provides stability as the village continues to navigate a period of rapid regional growth.
