Note: This press release is from Sheriff Jason K. Landers. Today’s paper, being delivered shortly, was already printed last night before the notice came through and still reads Powell being at large, though the circumstances has now changed.
This evening at approximately 6:00 p.m. information developed by law enforcement officers determined Branden Lee Powell was possibly in the rural area of Antwerp, Ohio. Officers and agents from Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, FBI and US Marshal Services collaborated and ultimately located Powell in the basement area crawl space of his parents’ home. Efforts were made by law enforcement personnel to successfully and peacefully bring Powell out of the crawl space and place him in custody; however, Powell did not comply with those efforts. Branden Lee Powell chose to take his own life by gunshot at approximately 9:30 pm.
I would like to thank the numerous law enforcement agencies: Ohio State Highway Patrol, FBI, US Marshal Services, neighboring Sheriff’s and their deputies and their personnel who have assisted us around the clock since this past Friday.
While this is not the outcome law enforcement had hoped for, law enforcement hopes the community can rest knowing this armed and dangerous individual is no longer a danger to the community.
Additional information and/or additional details cannot be provided as this continues to be an ongoing investigation.
