PICKAWAY COUNTY, OH — An update in a dramatic false hostage situation unfolded on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11:30 AM EST, with new court developments reported on Wednesday, May 28, Jeffery Corby, 44, who initially reported a man with a gun holding a woman hostage at the Ohio State Highway Patrol post south of South Bloomfield on US-23, has pleaded guilty to inducing panic.
The incident began when Corby called 911, claiming a light-skinned African American male had stopped his black pickup truck in the patrol post parking lot and threatened a woman with a firearm. Law enforcement responded swiftly, surrounding the area, deploying drones, helicopters, and a negotiator, and shutting down US-23 due to the perceived threat of gunfire. However, after an hour, authorities determined the report was fabricated upon closer inspection of the scene.
Corby, identified as the caller, was arrested and initially held in Pickaway County Jail. Recent court proceedings have seen him plead guilty to the charge of inducing panic. He will remain in Pickaway County Jail with no bond until sentencing, and a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) has been ordered to assess an appropriate penalty. The case has raised questions about the motives behind the false report, though no further details have been disclosed.
