

According to information from the Pope County sheriff's office aBatavia, Ohio man was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with Possession of Fentanyl, Reckless driving, unsafe vehicle, Driving on the Shoulder of the Road, DWI/Drugs and felony fleeing.
The lone occupant of the Pope County Detention Center that uis facing those specific charges is 54-year-old Richard p Stetson. According to information from the Pope County Sheriff's Office at the time Stetson was arrested he was in possession of approximately 380 fentanyl pills.
A social media post by the Sheriff's Office said Pope County 911 alerted deputies to the report of a reckless driver traveling east on I-40 who was weaving in and out of both lanes of traffic. Corporal Leo Young of the PCSO observed the suspect vehicle at approximately the 78-mile marker driving erratically.
Corporal Young initiated a stop and the suspect failed to yield resulting in a short pursuit that ended after approximately three miles.
Young observed that Stetson was unsteady with pinpoint pupils and sweating profusely , consistent with being under the influence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle revealed the fentanyl pills which were turned over to the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force.
Stetson remains in the Pope County jail awaiting his arraignment. According to booking information his original court date is September 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
