MANSFIELD — Law enforcement officials continue to search for a federal fugitive Monday, as they “strongly believe” he is still located in Richland County, according to Amy Ivy of the Ohio State High Way Patrol.
Shawn Christy, 26, of Pennsylvania, is believed to have fled on foot after crashing a white 2002 GMC utility truck north of the Interstate 71, Ohio 13 interchange Sunday evening. He reportedly stole the vehicle early Sunday morning near Hazle Township in Luzarne County, Pennsyvania — a six-hour drive from Mansfield.
Christy is wanted by the FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service and U.S. Secret Service for multiple offenses. He is considered armed and dangerous.
“We strongly believe he’s still in the area. I think we’re really basing it off of what he’s done in the past,” Ivy said. “He kind of lives off the land.”
Christy is described as a 5-foot-10, 150-pound white male with green eyes and short brown hair in a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Another release from the U.S. Marshals Service describes Christy’s hair as dark blonde and provides further detail, saying he has a beard and cross tattoo on his upper right arm. He speaks with a noticeable lisp and claims to be a survivalist.
Late Monday afternoon, supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal, Anne Murphy added that Christy could be wearing a baseball cap. She had no further description of his clothing.
The search for Christy was put on hold around 1 a.m. Monday and started up again at daylight.
“We started our efforts again, (and) weather permitting, the helicopter will be back up,” Ivy said. “We also have special response teams.”
She continued to explain the Ohio State Highway Patrol is “fielding a ton of calls,” which will all be investigated.
“From here, we’re just going to continue searching areas that surrounded the crash scene and any calls that come in,” Ivy said. “No lead is more important than the other. We’re going to check all of them because you just don’t know what little, minor detail that see could be a significant event to us.”
She encouraged people to check to see if any doors or windows were broken into or if any food, water, money or other “things that people can survive off” are missing. Money could be taken easily and further transportation efforts, she said.
“We’ve had no reports on stolen vehicles yet,” Ivy said. “Which means people are doing a good job of locking up their cars.”
According to the Allentown Morning Call, Christy has already led officials on a chase through five states, and briefly, into Canada.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol hasn’t identified any local connections to Christy.
“We think he’s just traveling through,” Ivy said.
Anyone with information, should contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 911 or 419-756-2222.
The U.S. Marshal Service is also asking anyone with information on the vehicle to call 911 or the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to TIP411 (847411).
“You can call any law enforcement,” Murphy said. “We’re responding to all tips.”
“Nerve-Racking Night”
At about 1 a.m. this morning, Kim Bryant and her fiancé, Brian Stilner woke up to find the U.S. Marshals Service at their home on Hanley Road.
“I was sleeping, and we were awoken by our dog barking very loudly,” Bryant said. “It was the Marshals at the front door, and they asked to search our vehicles and the property.”
The officers checked the couple’s shed, garage and vehicles, but found nothing.
“It was a very nerve-racking night, knowing a fugitive was so close,” Bryant said late Monday morning. “I think, that’s the scariest thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
She always keeps doors and windows locked, but their German Shepard, Josey was the only thing that “made me feel safe this morning.”
“He always barks if there’s a cat and squirrel, so if there’s someone out there, he’ll let me know,” Bryant said.
The couple found out about the manhunt after a co-worker texted Bryant Sunday evening. That’s when they took precautions, locking the doors and staying inside.
When not working, the couple intends to stay inside.
“We’re in for safety until we know it’s okay. We’ll just stay in until we’re safe,” Bryant said.
A Disabled Vehicle Call
At approximately 4:41 p.m. Sunday, the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to the report of a one-vehicle crash on I-71 near mile marker 171 northbound.
The vehicle has a Pennsylvania registration ZJP4486 and was reportedly stolen by Christy from Skitco Iron Works about 385 miles from Mansfield.
“A witness, a passerby saw him flee,” said Capt. Ron Raines, the Bucyrus District Commander for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
“We believe he was (Christy), but we don’t have anything (evidence) that puts him with the vehicle at the time of the crash.”
Raines said, Christy has a history of stealing vehicles.
More than a dozen law enforcement vehicles were parked along the right side of northbound I-71 Sunday as authorities searched the fields east of the interstate throughout the evening.
Raines also said officers addressed a call about “a shot fired” near Woodville Road. They have since looked into this.
“We were not able to locate him in that area,” he said.
It was unknown whether or not the shot was related to the manhunt.
Traffic was moving slowly along I-71 Sunday evening, but has since sped back up. The pick-up truck was visibly crashed on the east side of I-71 on a hill next to a cornfield. It has been moved from the scene.
This is a difficult time of year for a search, Murphy of the U.S. Marshals explained.
“It’s raining. It’s hot. They (law enforcement officers) are carrying a lot of weight on their backs, but they’re working hard… until he’s either under arrest or feel like he’s left the area, ” she said.
At about 4 p.m. Monday, Murphy didn’t provide details about where the search had and was currently taking place, only saying, “We have a large police presence in the area.”
Threats Against Trump
Christy is wanted by the FBI for alleged threats against President Donald Trump and for interstate communication of threats. He may be in possession of stolen handguns.
The FBI, U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals Service are seeking public assistance in finding the McAdoo, Pennsylvania, resident. Christy is wanted for allegedly threatening to harm or kill a police chief, other law enforcement officers and a district attorney, in addition to the President.
Christy allegedly posted the threats on Facebook between June 3 and June 12, saying he was going to shoot Trump in the head and would use “lethal force” against any law enforcement officer trying to stop him.
A federal arrest warrant was issued on June 19. This is in addition to multiple state arrest warrants in Pennsylvania for burglary, probation violation and failure to appear for an aggravated assault case.
The FBI is offering up to a $20,000 reward for information leading to Christy’s arrest, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals. A flyer provided earlier by the Ohio State Highway Patrol listed that the FBI was offering up to $10,000 with possibly additional money coming from the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals.
The Mansfield Police Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshal, the U.S. Secret Service, the Ohio Highway State Patrol and the Ontario Police Department are among the units working to locate Christy.
Schools Close
Monday morning, several Richland County schools closed, citing the manhunt as the reason. Lucas Local Schools, Madison Local Schools, Madison Adult Education and St. Mary’s School in Mansfield were among those that closed.
“They made those determinations on their own,” Ivy said.
Madison superintendent, Shelley Hilderbrand chose to be cautious.
“I reached out the sheriff’s office and State Highway Patrol for information regarding the fugitive in our area. They informed me that he had not been apprehended, and they were not sure if he was still in the area,” said Madison superintendent, Shelley Hilderbrand.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol suggested having a school resource officer on-hand, she explained.
“Since Madison does not currently employ a School Resource Officer, I made the decision on the side of student safety and not have our students standing at bus stops in the dark,” Hilderbrand said. “I thought it would be best to allow law enforcement additional time to locate the suspect and to keep our students home.”
Assuming no additional threat, she anticipated schools will reopen Tuesday.
“I will continue to work with law enforcement to make sure our students are safe,” she said.
This story was last updated at 4:29 p.m.
