Bond Set at $75,000 for John D. Bongalis Following Sullivan Township Police Pursuit and SWAT Standoff
SULLIVAN, Ohio — Bond was set today for John D. Bongalis following a lengthy video hearing in Ashland County Common Pleas Court stemming from a police pursuit, standoff, and SWAT response in Sullivan Township this past weekend.
Ashland County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Emily M. Bates ordered Bongalis held on a $75,000 bond, secured by cash, surety, or real estate, after reviewing a criminal complaint filed earlier that day and hearing arguments from prosecutors and the defendant.
According to court records during the hearing, Bongalis faces two criminal counts:
Failure to Comply with an Order or Signal of a Police Officer — a fourth-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2921.331.
The charge includes a firearm specification, alleging Bongalis had a firearm on or about his person or under his control during the offense.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf are also seeking forfeiture of a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and a 2023 gray Ford F-150, alleging both were instrumentalities of the offense.
Violating a Protection Order — a first-degree misdemeanor, alleging Bongalis recklessly violated the terms of an existing protection order on Feb. 21, 2026.
If convicted, the felony charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 18 months, with mandatory prison time possible due to the firearm specification. The misdemeanor carries a possible 180-day jail sentence.
Appearing for the state, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf requested a high cash bond, citing Bongalis’ alleged actions during the incident and his prior conduct.
Metcalf told the court that Bongalis was served with a protection order in January that prohibited him from possessing firearms. Deputies reportedly recovered one firearm at that time but later developed concerns he may have access to others. Prosecutors further alleged that Bongalis had been the subject of an Erie County warrant related to aggravated menacing involving threatening communications.
During the Feb. 21 traffic stop on State Route 58, Metcalf said Bongalis fled after initially stopping, drove to his residence, verbally confronted deputies, resisted arrest, and later barricaded himself inside his home — prompting a Special Response Team callout. Authorities later recovered a loaded .357 revolver from the truck, along with spent .223 shell casings and Christmas cards, items prosecutors said were similar to evidence involved in the Erie County case.
During the bond hearing, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf detailed disturbing allegations involving spent rifle shell casings that factored into the state’s request for a high cash bond. Metcalf told the court that Bongalis is accused of previously sending spent .223 shell casings through the mail inside Christmas cards to the protected individual, as well as allegedly dropping similar shell casings at the victim’s place of employment, actions the state characterized as threatening in nature.
Metcalf stated that the shell casings were connected to an aggravated menacing case in Erie County, for which Bongalis had an active warrant at the time of the Ashland County traffic stop. According to the prosecutor, additional spent .223 shell casings and Christmas cards were later discovered inside Bongalis’ truck during the investigation, items he said were consistent with the earlier alleged conduct and heightened concerns for victim safety and flight risk.
“He has shown that he will flee, that he will not obey court orders, and that he will not obey law enforcement,” Metcalf told the court, arguing the bond amount was necessary to ensure public safety and Bongalis’ appearance in court.
Speaking on his own behalf, Bongalis told the court he was not a flight risk and asked for a lower bond, stating he had “no place to go” and was overwhelmed by the situation.
“I made a mistake. I was scared,” Bongalis said, adding that he had never spent a night in jail before and was extremely nervous. “I don’t want to run. I’d rather get it over with and take care of business.”
After conducting an indigency review, Magistrate Bates appointed Attorney Zachary Meranda to represent Bongalis.
In addition to the $75,000 bond, the court imposed conditions, including the usual bond restrictions
No contact with the alleged victim, No possession or use of drugs or alcohol, including THC, Random drug and alcohol testing, GPS electronic monitoring, No travel outside Ohio without court approval, and Compliance with all laws and court orders.
Bongalis was scheduled for an initial appearance hearing on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m., to be held by video. If bond is posted, he is required to appear in person at the Ashland County Courthouse.
The bond hearing follows a Feb. 21 incident in Sullivan Township in which Ashland County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to arrest Bongalis on outstanding warrants. After fleeing a traffic stop and refusing to surrender at his residence, Special Response Teams from multiple agencies were called to the scene. Bongalis ultimately surrendered without injury to himself or officers.
The case remains pending in Ashland County Common Pleas Court, as always, criminal charges are allegations only and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
