CIRCLEVILLE, OH — The Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man following a complex incident involving a runaway juvenile over the weekend, according to a report released on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The incident unfolded at 969 1/2 Mill Road, where deputies were dispatched to locate a juvenile reported missing from Ross County.
Deputies arrived at 5:24 PM and spoke with the juvenile’s father, who displayed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and possession of an empty alcohol container. He confirmed he was expecting his daughter, who lived with her grandmother under temporary custody, but had not seen her in the last three hours. The juvenile had been reported missing by her grandmother and entered into LEADS by Ross County. The father also had outstanding warrants from Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Englewood Police Department, but was out of pick up range.
At 5:59 PM, dispatch reported that the father called to confirm the juvenile’s arrival, and deputies returned to find a black Genesis in the driveway, believed to belong to her boyfriend. The juvenile revealed that her grandmother had initially permitted the visit via text but later demanded her return. She became visibly upset, crying and expressing a desire to stay with her father, who continued to show signs of intoxication and agitation, questioning the custody arrangement while consuming a Budweiser.
Tensions escalated when the grandmother arrived at 7:18 PM to retrieve the juvenile. The father approached her aggressively, yelling and eventually lying in the roadway to block traffic, ignoring warnings from deputies. When ordered to stand, he swatted his hat at a deputy and fled toward his backyard, leading to his arrest. During the apprehension, deputies discovered a Ruger LCP .380 auto in his waistband, which was secured in a cruiser. The father was read his Miranda rights and transported to Pickaway County Jail by Deputy Casto at 7:33 PM.
Jeffery Stewart, 38 was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, using weapons while intoxicated, and having weapons under disability.
