GARSON TAYLOR

A former Benwood fire chief is among the 20 people recently indicted by a Marshall County grand jury.

According to information from Marshall County Prosecutor Joe Canestraro’s office, Garson Taylor, 32, was indicted on five different charges stemming from an alleged incident involving his wife and a standoff with Benwood Police Department officers. Taylor, a former chief of the Benwood Volunteer Fire Department, was indicted on felony charges of wanton endangerment and strangulation and misdemeanor charges of domestic battery, fleeing and obstructing an officer.

Taylor was arrested in April after his wife was found with a bloody face and choke marks on her neck. Officers noticed Taylor driving past the home and when they ordered him to stop, he reportedly kept going.

Officers then pursued him and eventually blocked his vehicle. An hour-long standoff ensued with Taylor allegedly pointing a gun to his head. The standoff ended after an officer opened Taylor’s truck door and pulled him out of the vehicle.

According to Benwood police, several AR-style rifles and about 800 rounds of ammunition were found in Taylor’s vehicle. He was also wearing body armor at the time of the incident, reports state.

Others indicted by the grand jury include:

– Christian J. Britton, 22, entry of a building other than a dwelling, conspiracy to commit entry of a building and petit larceny;

– Andrew Brunson, 23, threats of terrorists acts;

– Rebecca R. Haught, 38, DUI causing serious bodily injury;

– April Leigh Kish, 40, child neglect creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, and DUI;

– Shawn Jason Magers, 41, entry of a building other than a dwelling, conspiracy to commit entry of a building and petit larceny;

– Emily Ann Miller, 22, child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury by parent, guardian or custodian, and child neglect causing serious bodily injury;

– Donald Edward McCloud, 33, driving on suspended license third or subsequent offense;

– John Lee McFarland, 52, strangulation and domestic battery;

– Cheyenne Michelle McIntyre, 31, welfare fraud;

– Jessica Shae Nolan, 32, child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury by parent, guardian or custodian, and malicious assault;

– Michael Offenberger, 33, child neglect resulting in bodily Injury;

– Brittany Jo Pitner, 33, forgery and uttering;

– Peter A. Ruskin, 50, failure to register or provide notice of registration changes;

– Adam Christopher Strapazzon, 40, grand larceny;

– Mark Aaron Suarez, 48, wanton endangerment involving a firearm and domestic battery;

– Denny Ray Wells Jr., 41, burglary and malicious assault on law enforcement officer;

– Donald C. Wilburn, 36, sexual abuse by parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust, sexual abuse second degree, sexual abuse first degree and sexual assault third degree; and

– Gary William Wolfe, 79, sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian, incest, sexual assault in the first degree and sexual assault in the second degree.

According to Canestraro, one indictment will remain sealed until the person is in custody.