Felon caught with a loaded gun in Butler
An Ohio felon is jailed in the Butler County Prison after county narcotics officers say they found him with a loaded pistol outside a Butler restaurant.
The Butler County Drug Task Force arrested Zachari L. Roth, 34, of Columbus on felony gun charges. He is jailed on $50,000 bail.
An officer came upon Roth about 5 p.m. after first spotting Tara L. Hockenberry, 25, of Butler, who the task force wanted on an arrest warrant, according to court documents.
Roth and Hockenberry were both seated at a picnic table on South Chestnut Street. The officer said that while arresting Hockenberry, Roth appeared to make “furtive” movements with his hands.
In a purse that was on the table, documents said, were seven packages of Suboxone, a digital scale, seven 32-caliber bullets and an Ohio identification card for Roth.
He and Hockenberry both denied ownership of the purse or its contents.
Task force officers subsequently took Roth to the ground after they say he appeared to be growing anxious and at one point stood up from the table.
Read what officers found during the pat-down in Monday’s Butler Eagle.
