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Fugitive is apprehended

Ricardo Gonzalez Jr., who was wanted on felony charges, was taken into custody Wednesday night by the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Dept. and is being held on $500,00 bond.

The 30-year-old Gonzalez was a fugitive believed to be armed and dangerous during the search. Deputies had confiscated two vehicles he had been driving previously. Both vehicles had handguns inside.

On Aug. 8, deputies and New Waterford EMS were called to the area of Bye Road and Adams Road in Unity Township, where a newspaper carrier reported someone passed out behind the wheel. The man, later identified as Gonzalez reportedly started backing up his vehicle, nearly struck a deputy and hit the cruiser. The deputy opened the door, but Gonzalez reportedly accelerated the vehicle and left. The charges from that encounter were felonious assault, failure to comply, driving under suspension, failure to stop and improper backing.

On Aug. 20, a passenger fled on foot from what was described as a suspicious vehicle. On Justison Road a woman reported a vehicle was driving through her field and nearly crashed into her cows. The vehicle was found near a wellsite and a gun was found in the vehicle.

On Sept. 28, deputies believed him to be at a home on Cunningham Road, but Gonzalez fled. Salem police sent a K-9 to search the area for up to two hours, but he was not located. Deputies returned to the home on Sept. 30, but again he was not found.

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