Waynesfield PD

04/03/2026

***PRESS RELEASE***

Missing Runaway Chicago Girl Found in Waynesfield

Waynesfield, OH — On Thursday, April 2, 2026, a Venezuelan-born couple traveling through the area stopped Waynesfield PD Chief Nathan Motter and requested immediate assistance regarding their son’s girlfriend, whom they believed to be in trouble.

Upon conducting a brief investigation with assistance from Chicago PD Detective Monica Mata and the U.S. Marshals Office, Chief Motter determined that the female, a 15-year-old juvenile, had been reported missing out of Chicago, Illinois. The juvenile advised that she had intended to run away with her boyfriend once she reached Columbus, Ohio; however, the boyfriend’s parents intervened and prevented the plan from being carried out.

As the boyfriend's parents began driving the girl back to Chicago, she stated that she planned to flee once the vehicle stopped. Concerned for her safety, the boyfriend’s parents sought assistance while she was asleep and made contact with Chief Motter to report the situation.

Through coordinated efforts, the juvenile was safely recovered and arrangements were made to return her to her family. Approximately 7 hours after the incident began, the girl was reunited with her father and brother at the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office.

Agencies assisting in this incident included the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, Auglaize-Mercer Grand Lake Task Force, Chicago Police Department, U.S. Marshals Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Chief Motter stated, “This was an excellent collaboration of multiple local and federal resources to return a missing girl to her family. With limited information and a language barrier, we were able to safely reunite a teenager with her family.”

No criminal charges will be pursued by the Waynesfield Police Department. All investigative information has been forwarded to the Chicago Police Department for appropriate follow-up.

03/24/2026

If you saw this very low flying helicopter in the area, it's just checking the AES transmission lines. Unless it crashes, no need for alarm.

03/16/2026

Weather permitting, Auglaize County will participate in the statewide tornado drill this Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. The outdoor tornado siren will be activated at that time. It is also a good time to review and practice what to do in the event of an actual tornado warning. (Please note: For most, that means determining where to go for safety...and not "weather spot" by sitting in a lawn chair outside while drinking a beer, looking up into the sky saying, "Yep, sure looks like a good storm movin' in!")

03/13/2026

Currently 48 mph winds (gusts of around 60 mph) at the weather station at the police department. Secure all small pets, children, and loose items. Otherwise, they'll likely end up in Hardin County.

03/11/2026

POST STORM WRAP UP

As the 2 year anniversary of the Indian Lake tornado comes in just 3 days, today's storm serves as a reminder to be weather aware as spring systems are hard to forecast with regards to timing and location.

Today's response in the Waynesfield area was fantastic. First responders and school officials alike put the safety of our people as the #1 priority. While there were issues with communication during the peak of the event, our children, residents and first responders were all safe.

Thank you for working together, and while we were blessed to have had minimal to no damage in our area, this was a prime example as to why Waynesfield is a great community!

03/10/2026

SEVERE WEATHER REMINDER - be weather aware

With the potential of severe weather overnight tonight, this is a reminder to have MULTIPLE ways to receive weather alerts - specifically if there is a tornado warning for our area.

In the event of a tornado warning (a tornado is confirmed either visually or by radar) the outdoor warning siren *SHOULD* sound. This is never a guarantee and should not be relied on as the sole source of notification. This siren is designed to be heard outdoors if it's functioning correctly, but there are various reasons it could fail.

Forecasters are reporting the Waynesfield area could be impacted anywhere between 4 am and 10 am tomorrow. Strong straightline winds in excess of 60 mph, 1-inch in diameter hail, and brief tornadoes are possible in this storm.

Remember, don't be scared - be prepared!

03/06/2026

FYI - SCAM ALERT! Folks in and around Waynesfield are receiving this text scam now. We are advising you to block and delete the message if you get it. Do not click any links or respond. Responding may verify your phone number and lead to additional scam attempts.

🚨 Scam Alert (Ohio)

This text is circulating right now claiming to be a “Columbus Municipal Court toll violation notice.” It includes an official-looking document and a QR code demanding payment.

IT'S A SCAM!

Courts do not text hearing notices, and they do not collect fines through QR codes sent by random numbers.

If you get this message:
• Do not scan the QR code
• Do not click anything
• Report the text as spam and delete it

Sharing the screenshot so people know what it looks like. Feel free to pass this along — someone’s parent or grandparent could easily get fooled by it.

02/06/2026

Per Auglaize County Sheriff...

As of 1:41 pm, all levels are CANCELED.

As of 8 am, Advisory: LEVEL 1 SNOW EMERGENCY roads are hazardous due to accumulated snow and/or ice. Drive cautiously.

02/06/2026

USE CAUTION THIS MORNING!

Road conditions have diminished very quickly and visibility is reduced in some locations. The roads are expected to improve as the day goes on, but use extreme caution this morning.

01/29/2026

Per the Auglaize County Sheriff:

All winter road condition advisory levels have been canceled. Please continue to drive cautiously.

01/27/2026

ROADWAY UPDATE AS OF 1:55 PM

Auglaize County remains on a level 1 snow advisory.

A quick check of area roads in and around the Waynesfield area has revealed quite a bit of blowing and drifting snow. Both north/south and east/west roads are seeing drifting as the strong southwest winds continue to blow.

Several quick snow squalls have created limited visibility at times as well. Use caution when traveling and prepare for unexpected snow drifts in the roadway.

Forecasters are advising temperatures will likely drop gradually during the overnight hours with sustained winds of 8-15 mph. The actual temperature may be -2°F at sunrise with a windchill making the temperature feel much colder. Drifting may continue with salt having a minimal effect.