U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force

05/30/2026

04/22/2026

Chillicothe Police Department

Today 4/21/2026) we remember and honor DARE Officer Larry Cox. 21 years ago he was shot and killed by a robbery suspect.
Officer Cox had served with the Chillicothe Police Department for 19 years and served as one of the city's DARE officers at the time of his murder.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/17739-police-officer-larry-randolph-cox

04/22/2026

DEA Drug is this Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 2pm at @ Chillicothe Law Complex (28 N. Paint St, Chillicothe)!💊

Stop by to safely dispose of expired or unneeded medications.

Ross County Sheriff's Office
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

04/21/2026

Today we remember and honor DARE Officer Larry Cox. 21 years ago he was shot and killed by a robbery suspect.
Officer Cox had served with the Chillicothe Police Department for 19 years and served as one of the city's DARE officers at the time of his murder.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/17739-police-officer-larry-randolph-cox

04/18/2026

Let's talk about recovery!💬

Join us on Wednesday, April 29 from 10am to 6pm at the Community Resource Event at the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library Main Library Annex Building!

Event activities will include: education and training, food, health and wellness programs, Narcan, recovery support services, and treatment providers.

RCHD's Medical Mobile Unit will be at the event offering:
- vaccines
- Hep C and HIV testing
- Health Promotion and Quality Improvement Division resources
-
- fentanyl test strips

If you would like to be a vendor for this event, please click the link below to register:
https://bit.ly/3QdcdUM

For more event information, please contact RCHD SUD Program Coordinator Ashley Mitchell at [email protected] or Ty McBee at [email protected].

Ross County Post Overdose Response Team - PORT
Ross County Community Action(OFFICIAL)
Hope Partnership Project
Ross County Sheriff's Office
Chillicothe Police Department
U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force
Ohio State Highway Patrol

04/17/2026

Search Warrant Leads to Drug Seizure in Ross County

The Ross County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, conducted a search warrant at 3168 South Bridge Street, Lot 5, in Chillicothe, Ohio, as part of the ongoing Appalachia Overwatch initiative.

During the ex*****on of the search warrant, agents seized approximately 34 grams of suspected co***ne. The evidence has been submitted to the crime laboratory for analysis.

Upon receipt of laboratory results, the case will be presented to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of charges and potential grand jury indictment.

The U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force serves Ross, Fayette, Highland, Hocking, Gallia, and Jackson counties. The Appalachia Overwatch initiative is a proactive, intelligence-driven effort focused on disrupting drug trafficking networks and reducing the flow of illegal narcotics into Appalachian Ohio. Through collaboration and coordinated enforcement actions, participating agencies remain committed to protecting the communities they serve.

04/17/2026

Chillicothe, Ohio – The Ross County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, arrested Joe Spencer, 45, of Chillicothe, Ohio, as part of the Appalachia Overwatch initiative.

During a traffic stop, criminal indicators were observed, and a Ross County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit responded to assist. A subsequent pat-down revealed approximately 1.5 ounces of suspected fentanyl.
A probable cause search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a handgun equipped with a drum magazine, as well as a concealed magnetic box containing approximately 4 ounces of suspected co***ne.

Nearly $17,000 in illegal narcotics was seized.

Spencer was taken into custody and incarcerated. He is currently being held on a $500,000 bond and faces charges including possession of narcotics and having weapons while under disability. Additionally, Larry Perry was taken into custody by the Adult Parole Authority in connection with this investigation.

The U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force serves Ross, Fayette, Highland, Hocking, Gallia, and Jackson counties. The Task Force remains committed to a unified, collaborative approach—sharing resources, intelligence, and personnel—to aggressively target drug trafficking and protect the communities we serve across Appalachian Ohio.