Chillicothe man sentenced in Highland County failure to comply case

A Chillicothe man was sentenced recently to community control after pleading guilty in Highland County to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.

As previously reported, Dwight B. Hickel, 35, of Chillicothe was indicted by a Highland County grand jury on the third-degree felony charge in July.

According to a bill of particulars, on or about June 9, a Greenfield Police officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Hickel’s vehicle for alleged traffic violations. It is alleged that Hickel “continued fleeing” from the officer, including driving through a stop sign, turning without a signal and “traveling at a high rate of speed” within the village limits. 

After the officer lost sight of Hickel’s vehicle, multiple officers “established surveillance,” according to the bill of particulars. It is alleged that when Hickel was located, he “fled on foot despite repeated commands to stop and warnings that a K9 would be deployed,” then again “failed to comply with repeated commands to get on the ground.” He was eventually apprehended after the K9 was deployed, the bill of particulars says.

Hickel pleaded guilty to the charge Sept. 2, according to court records. 

During a hearing Oct. 7, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Hickel to three years of community control. Hickel was ordered to successfully complete counseling and treatment. His driver’s license will be suspended for three years, commencing Oct. 7.