A 30-year-old Bellefontaine man was arrested Sunday morning after police say he was walking along city streets while carrying a hatchet and allegedly waving it at passing vehicles.
Bellefontaine Police officers were called around 9:15 a.m. Sunday, June 14, to the area of Wright Street and Augusta Drive after a caller reported a suspicious person.
According to the report, the caller told dispatchers a man wearing a blue hoodie appeared intoxicated and was waving a hatchet at vehicles as he walked southbound on Wright Street.
Officers later found a man matching the description walking northbound on the sidewalk along South Main Street near Hillcrest Baptist Church.
According to police, the man, later identified as 30-year-old Garrett Levering, was carrying a hatchet in his left hand.
Officers reported that Levering raised the hatchet as the patrol vehicle passed him.
The officer then turned into the church parking lot and attempted to get Levering’s attention by sounding the cruiser’s air horn.
Police said Levering dropped the hatchet beside the sidewalk when he noticed the officer approaching.
He was also carrying a nearly empty bottle of Caliber Vodka and showed several signs of intoxication.
When officers attempted to place him in handcuffs, police said he initially failed to relax his arms and warned officers there would be “problems” if they touched him again.
Levering was then taken into custody without further incident.
Levering claimed he was trying to protect the public and made comments about “child molesters” and families being in danger.
While being transported to the Logan County Jail, Levering continued to insist he had done nothing wrong and was trying to help.
Levering was lodged in the Logan County Jail on disorderly conduct charges.
