RAY ALLEN FOX JR.

POWHATAN POINT — A Powhatan Point man is facing numerous charges in the wake of a domestic violence incident that led to a standoff with law enforcement Wednesday.

Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas discussed the arrest during a Thursday morning press conference.

At 1:58 p.m. Wednesday, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a domestic violence incident in Powhatan between a female and Ray Allen Fox Jr., 46, who was taken into custody.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Industrial Street address to assist the Powhatan Police Department, which has jurisdiction and is conducting an investigation. Also on scene to assist were the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a Powhatan emergency squad and representatives of the Belmont County Animal Shelter.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they attempted to make contact with Fox and the female inside of the residence with no success.

“They repeatedly tried and tried,” Lucas said. “But they knew that the party was inside and didn’t get responses.”

At that point, the sheriff said, the Belmont County Special Operations Branch was asked to respond.

Once those officers arrived on scene, they negotiated with Fox and the female while they were still inside the residence. The female exited at 4:40 p.m. while Fox remained inside, according to Lucas.

“We don’t like to be the aggressor,” Lucas said. “We’re in a situation.”

After negotiations with Fox continued for a couple more hours, law enforcement decided to breach the front door of the residence with K-9 Xyrem ready to enter at 5:27 p.m.

Deputies made verbal commands, informing Fox that K-9 Xyrem would enter the trailer. By 5:30 p.m. — just three minutes later — Fox exited.

After he left the residence, police took Fox into custody without further incident.

“Xyrem was not deployed,” Lucas said. “But it just shows that Xyrem being a deputy himself, and he is there for what he is trained for, and with the K-9 the incident came to him without anybody getting hurt.”

Fox was placed under arrest and charged with two counts of failure to appear in connection with previous charges of domestic violence and obstructing official business. He also was charged with one count each of kidnapping, domestic violence, strangulation and violation of a protection order.

Fox was being held Thursday in the Belmont County Jail with no bond. The female involved was not arrested.

Lucas said the Special Operations Branch is very important because it includes officers from the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and various local police departments who are trained every month to respond to high-risk incidents.

“That’s what we want,” Lucas said. “We want to come to a resolution, a safe resolution, without incident, and this is just a good (example) of everybody just taking their time and negotiating to a safe ending.”