Highland County Sheriff's Report

Sheriff Donnie Barrera reports for the week of Oct. 19-25, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office received 416 911 calls, answered 188 requests for service, dispatched 117 fire and EMS runs, took 36 offense reports and investigated four traffic crashes.

On Oct. 21, the sheriff’s office received several calls from citizens in the Rocky Fork Lake area reporting vehicle break-ins and thefts overnight. Deputies responded to Hill Road, Maple Trail and McCoppin Mill Road, where reports were taken and evidence collected. These incidents remain under investigation. Property owners are reminded to keep car doors locked and to refrain from leaving valuable items in vehicles. Anyone witnessing suspicious activity is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (937) 393-1421, or anyone with information about a crime can leave anonymous messages on the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (937) 840-6243.

At 10:27 p.m. on Oct. 22, a domestic disturbance was reported at a residence in the 2000 block of US Route 50 in Dodson Township. Deputies arrived on scene and spoke with the parties involved. They informed the deputies that the argument was only verbal, and one person involved in the argument decided to leave for the remainder of the evening. No charges were filed.

On Oct. 24 at 6:12 p.m., a resident of Smith Road came to the Highland County Justice Center to speak with a deputy about an attempted break-in at her residence. Evidence of someone trying to gain entry to the home was discovered, but it didn’t appear the suspect actually entered the premises. This incident remains under investigation.

Deputies were dispatched to Laycock Lane at 7:29 a.m. on Oct. 25 after receiving a call of a domestic disturbance. The caller reported a husband and wife were actively fighting, and law enforcement was needed. Jacqueline Sue Keen and Gary Ray Keen of Winchester were both arrested and charged with one count of domestic violence.