CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A chaotic scene unfolded in Chillicothe on August 23, 2025, when a man wielding sticks attacked vehicles and threatened bystanders, injuring a child and prompting a multi-agency response. Chad Mills, 38, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses following the midday incident near the Olive Garden parking lot at 1417 N. Bridge St.
The incident began around 12:51 p.m. when Ross County Sheriff’s deputies, including Sgt. Jake Champion, Deputy Gallagher, Deputy Sams, and Deputy Rease Tatman, were dispatched to Enterprise Place Drive after a report of an assault. The caller, reported that his son, a 5-year-old passenger, was injured when Mills struck their vehicle with a stick, shattering the rear passenger window and causing lacerations to the child’s ear. Chillicothe Police Department officers and an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper assisted in the response.
As deputies arrived, dispatch reported Mills, matching the suspect’s description—a white male with a short beard, balding hair, and a backpack—had moved to the Olive Garden parking lot, where he was seen swinging a pole and stick at cars and people. Witnesses described a terrifying ordeal. One witness recorded video of Mills hitting vehicles at the Panda Express drive-thru, while another saw him throw a stick at cars. Other witnesses reported Mills striking their cars and threatening to “bust your skull” in the parking lot, with one noting he reached into her car through an open window.
Sgt. Champion, responding with lights and siren activated due to the busy Saturday crowd, coordinated the effort. Deputy Tatman detained Mills, recovering a wooden stick, a silver metal pole with a blue sock, and a backpack near the scene.
The child was treated on-site by Chillicothe Fire Department medics and released
. Mills was arrested on charges of Aggravated Menacing (1st-degree misdemeanor), Criminal Damaging (1st-degree misdemeanor), Negligent Assault (3rd-degree misdemeanor), and Inducing Panic (4th-degree felony), the latter elevated due to the public alarm and physical harm caused. He was transported to Ross County Jail without incident.
Witnesses provided written statements, and promised to submit video evidence. The incident, occurring in a bustling area, highlighted the rapid response of law enforcement to neutralize the threat. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review additional evidence.
