Man evades capture in multi-jurisdiction hunt
Dameron wanted for questioning in Riverside shooting.
A man wanted for questioning in regards to a gun-related incident in Riverside was able to evade capture during a manhunt that led into Xenia on Friday night.
The last reported sighting of 33-year-old Charles Dameron was around 7 p.m. Friday in Xenia, when he ran away from officers after being spotted hiding behind a shed on Berwald Drive.
Dameron has a felony warrant out for his arrest for drugs and weapons-related charges out of Warren County, according to Xenia Capt. Steve Lane.
Dameron was also reportedly involved in a shooting or a shots fired incident in Riverside early Friday morning.
Dameron may still be in the Xenia area, but he is not believed to be a danger to the general public, Lane said.
“We don’t believe Dameron to be a threat to the general public. He is known to carry firearms and because of the incident that Riverside police are investigating, we believe he’s willing to use that firearm,” Lane said.
Riverside police did not respond to a request for information Saturday.
There was not an active search for Dameron among law enforcement going on Saturday, but that wasn’t the case Friday night when he allegedly fled from an attempted traffic stop on U.S. 35 East.
Xenia police said their officers were contacted around 6 p.m. after Dameron fled from a Greene County Sheriff ’s deputy on U.S. 35 East and was heading into the city.
A short time later, the vehicle Dameron was driving was found idling with no driver on North Richard Drive.
A child, who is not Dameron’s, was inside the vehicle and unharmed. That child was returned to the parents, according to Xenia police.
Capt. Lane said it’s believed the child’s parents entrusted Dameron to care for the child, who happened to be in the vehicle when Dameron fled from the deputy.
Dameron could face additional charges because of the child’s involvmenet, Lane said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter unit and a Beavercreek K-9 unit assisted in the search for the suspect after he ran from officers on Berwald Drive in Xenia.
Residents who live in the area were told at the time to “shelter in place” as officers searched the area.
Several people commented on Xenia police’s Facebook post about the incident. Many commented about seeing the helicopter flying above the neighborhood and not knowing why officers were searching the area.
Dameron was last seen wearing dark blue jeans and a dark colored jacket with a fur-lined hood.
If you see him, contact Xenia police at 937-372-9901 or the emergency dispatch center for Riverside police, 937-233-2080.