Pickaway – Police responded to the area behind the Tractor Supply on US-23 in the area of the homeless camp for a man whos armed with an axe around 2:20 pm
According to reports probation officers made the initial contact with the suspect, who was wanted after a felonious assault on his girlfriend recently. He didn’t comply with orders and brandished an axe. The probation called for backup from Circleville Police and Pickaway Sheriff’s office. During the standoff, a less lethal weapon was deployed and the man was taken into custody
During the standoff, the train was stopped due to the close proximity of the situation.
Ricky Speakman, 59 was arrested and charged with felonious assault, and domestic violence, more charges are possibly pending.
The term ‘less-lethal’ designates a wide array of weapons, ranging from the traditional police baton to encompass pepper spray, tear gas, electric-shock weapons such as Tasers, rubber and plastic bullets, water cannon, and acoustic weapons.