CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A late-night traffic stop by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday resulted in the arrest of two men on active warrants and the discovery of a loaded handgun hidden inside a vehicle’s dashboard.
At approximately 10:09 p.m. on August 27, 2026, Deputy J. MacDonald and Sgt. D. McIntyre were patrolling northbound on State Route 104 near U.S. Route 22 when they spotted a southbound tan Chevrolet Silverado drift across the center line. Deputies also noted the vehicle lacked a working license plate light.
When deputies initiated a traffic stop, the Silverado pulled into The Goody Nook on US-22 West. Rather than stopping immediately, the driver drove around the building before coming to a halt.
The driver, identified as Robert Jarvis, was driving under suspension and had an active warrant for his arrest. Deputies took Jarvis into custody without further incident.
The vehicle’s passenger, Lawrence Fowler, initially provided verbal identifying information. A record check revealed Fowler also had an active arrest warrant out of Seneca County, Ohio. Fowler was detained and transported to the Pickaway County Jail.
During an inventory search of the Silverado prior to towing, deputies noticed the radio/CD player had been removed from the dashboard. Tucked inside the vacant slot behind a gray hat, deputies uncovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver containing six rounds of ammunition. The firearm was covered in sawdust, matching residue observed on Jarvis’s clothing. Jarvis later confirmed the hat used to conceal the weapon belonged to him.
Jarvis was charged with Improper Handling of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and Having Weapons While Under Disability, alongside citations for Marked Lanes and Driving Under Suspension. He was transported to the Pickaway County Jail, and the vehicle was impounded.
The firearm and ammunition were secured into evidence. Deputies confirmed body-worn cameras were active throughout the encounter.
