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The Cherokee Health Clinic just outside of the Town of Ochelata was on a short, precautionary lockdown on Friday afternoon.

Sheriff Scott Owen said there was a possible disturbance where one person fled into a field. He said the suspect allegedly had a gun, but no one was found nor was there any evidence of a gun in the area.

Everything in the area is calm, according to Sheriff Owen. All is back to usual business, and a suspect has since been arrested.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call to Friday morning, regarding a larceny of a bicycle in Ochelata.

Later in the morning, Deputies received a call of a family fight in the area of the 200 block of Ochelata Street in Ochelata. Prior to deputy’s arrival, a white male fled on foot.

The white male was later determined to be a suspect in the theft of the bicycle earlier that morning. The suspect was thought to have been possibly armed with a weapon and ran east of Ochelata near the area of the Cherokee Clinic. 

As a result, the clinic was placed on the brief lockdown at the request of deputies.  Deputies searched for over an hour for the white male suspect and the lockdown, at the clinic was released as the suspect was no longer in the area.

At approximately 4:00 p.m., the white male was seen in the area of N 3950 Road and W 2900 Road.  A short foot pursuit resulted in the capture of the white male, later identified as Joseph Hickman.

Deputies learned Hickman had broken into a residence in the area of W 2900 Road west of N 3950 Road where he had changed clothes and had stolen popsicles and liquor as well as hand tools.  Deputies determined Hickman was involved in the theft of the bicycle as well as other stolen property which was a result of their investigation. 

It is estimated that around $10,000 worth of stolen property was recovered.  Hickman was transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he was booked on charges of misdemeanor theft, felony possession of stolen property, and 2nd degree burglary.