On February 14, 2024 at approximately 5:41 p.m. Darke County Deputies were dispatched to the intersection of State Route 49 and Beamsville-Union City Road, Ansonia, Ohio 45303 in reference to a traffic offense. It was reported to Deputies that a silver Ford Taurus was swerving all over the road way and it appeared a male and female were fighting inside the car. As the vehicle continued south, the caller advised the vehicle turned into the Woodington Church.
Deputies arrived at the Woodington Church and located a male sitting in the driver’s seat and a female sitting in the front passenger seat. The male was identified as, James Moland (49) of Winchester, Indiana and the female passenger was identified as Deborah Sheperd (28) of Richmond, Indiana.
While speaking to Mr. Moland, the Deputy detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person along with other impairment indicators which ultimately lead to Mr. Moland agreeing to complete Standard Field Sobriety Test. Mr. Moland subsequently failed the field sobriety test and was placed under arrest for OVI.
Prior to transporting Mr. Moland to the Darke County Jail, Deputies conducted a search of Mr. Moland and located multiple baggies of suspected illegal narcotics on his person. A probable cause search of the vehicle was also conducted where Deputies located an additional bag of suspected illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia. The suspected narcotics field tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine.
Ms. Sheperd was released without charges. There was no evidence to support a physical altercation transpired in the vehicle. Mr. Moland was booked into the Darke County Jail for the following charges:
Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Felony 2)
Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Felony 5)
OVI (Misdemeanor 1)
This incident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.