CHILLICOTHE, OH — The Chillicothe Police Department responded to a variety of calls on Thursday, July 9, 2026, including a chain-reaction traffic accident, multiple retail incidents, and several welfare checks.
Here is a breakdown of the key incidents reported by local authorities:
Three-Car Intersection Crash Leads to Citations
A chain-reaction traffic accident on West Water Street resulted in charges for a local driver on Thursday afternoon.
According to police records, at 2:55 PM, a vehicle driven by Emma Arledge was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Water and Walnut Streets. A second vehicle, driven by Ronald Zedalis, was also stationary directly behind Arledge’s car.
A third vehicle, driven by Franklin Butterbaugh, failed to stop for the stagnant traffic and rear-ended Zedalis’s vehicle, forcing it forward into Arledge’s car. Upon investigation, Butterbaugh was issued citations for Driving Under Suspension (DUS) related to child support/unpaid fines, as well as failure to maintain Assured Clear Distance Ahead (ACDA). He is scheduled to appear in court on July 24, 2026.
Retail Property Crimes & Hit-Skip Investigation
- Panera Bread Hit-Skip: At 4:05 PM, officers were dispatched to the Panera Bread at 1391 N. Bridge Street following reports of a hit-skip motor vehicle accident. The incident remains under active investigation.
- Walmart Theft & Trespassing: Shortly after the hit-skip call, at 4:08 PM, police swarmed the Walmart on River Trace Lane. A report was filed for criminal trespassing in a restricted area and theft by deception.
Domestic Disputes & Disorderly Conduct
- Theater Dispute: At 11:39 AM, officers responded to the area near the Danberry Movie Theater on Pawnee Road following reports of a possible domestic dispute. The investigation is currently pending.
- Gilmore Street Disturbance: Later in the evening, at 7:00 PM, units responded to a separate disorderly conduct complaint on Gilmore Street. A report was taken, though no immediate arrests were noted.
Traffic and Welfare Checks
- Late-Night Traffic Stop: The day’s log began just before 1:00 AM on Thursday when officers initiated a traffic stop on Enderlin Circle near the Yoctangee Park pond for a failure to signal before changing course.
- Welfare Checks: Police responded to two separate welfare checks during the shift. The first occurred at 7:49 AM on North Bridge Street, which also involved an outstanding warrant investigation. The second was a non-criminal welfare check conducted at 8:37 PM at a residence in the 100 block of Winona Boulevard.
Investigations into the majority of these unclosed cases are ongoing by the Chillicothe Police Department.
