PATRIOT, Ohio — A Gallia County man was taken into custody without injury after a large multi-agency SWAT operation late Sunday night, according to reports from the Chillicothe Police Department.
The Gallia County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Chillicothe SWAT Team on November 30 after investigators alleged that 41-year-old Robert Boster fired a firearm at a neighbor during a dispute in Greenfield Township earlier in the day. Deputies reported that Boster was known to be hostile toward law enforcement and potentially armed with a semi-automatic rifle, prompting the need for a high-risk response.
Coordinated SWAT Response
Chillicothe SWAT Team Leader Chris McGowan reported that the team mobilized shortly before 10 p.m. and traveled to the rural property at 162 State Route 233, where Boster had barricaded himself inside his residence.
Due to safety concerns involving Boster’s father — who lived in a nearby home on the same driveway and was also described as anti-government — the Portsmouth SWAT Team was requested to secure the perimeter around the father’s residence while Chillicothe SWAT advanced toward the main structure.
Snipers with Chillicothe Police positioned themselves around the property while the department’s BearCat armored vehicle pushed through gates along the long gravel driveway. Once at the residence, officers activated sirens and loudspeakers, announcing themselves and ordering Boster to exit.
Boster eventually appeared at a window and then walked outside wearing a robe and no shoes. He complied with commands and was taken into custody without resistance. Officers visually frisked him, then turned the arrest over to the designated SWAT arrest team.
Others Inside the Home
Three additional occupants — one, who was holding an 18-month-old child — were also ordered from the home. All were detained briefly for safety and later released to Gallia County deputies. No injuries were reported among officers or individuals on scene.
Following the arrests, SWAT personnel cleared the residence. Multiple officers reported observing an AR-style rifle lying in plain view in the basement bedroom. Later, Stewart claimed ownership of the firearm.
Firearms Located
On December 1, Gallia County Sheriff Matt Champlin informed Chillicothe officials that investigators searching the home recovered a large number of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The case remains under investigation.
Boster was taken into custody by Gallia County deputies and faces charges related to felonious assault and aggravated menacing.
