By James Massara
CCN News Director
GALION — A Crawford County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer was arrested after an incident involving the man allegedly drawing a firearm on another person after a traffic crash July 9.
A report from the Galion Police Department said Jason M. Tupps was arrested on charges for aggravated menacing, having a weapon under disability and operating a vehicle under the influence.
According to Galion Police Chief Brian Saterfield, a woman allegedly crashed into Tupps’ vehicle at Crawford-Morrow Line Road and Tupps followed the individual into the Kroft Street area in Galion.
Saterfield said Tupps managed to have the other driver exit her vehicle and he then held her at gunpoint and called the Galion Police Department.
GPD officers responded to the 911 call and subsequently arrested Tupps on suspicion of a DUI. Tupps was transported to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent said he was made aware of an employee that was arrested as a result of an incident that occurred while the employee was off duty.
He said his office understands criminal charges were filed against the employee and a criminal investigation still is open.
Kent said an employee was placed on paid administrative leave July 9, pending the results of an internal investigation, but would not confirm if the individual was Tupps.
Tupps is a corrections officer with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
According to both Saterfield and Kent, the investigation is ongoing. Saterfield said GPD is investigating the matters that occurred inside the Galion corporation limit and the sheriff’s office is investigating the traffic incident that occurred outside the Galion corporation limit.
Kent would not confirm if the internal investigation coincided with the two other investigations.
Saterfield said the incident has been submitted to the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office for review of any other possible charges.