Butler Mayor Hits Fugitive Twice With Car, Claims It Was an “Accident” — Bellville Police Chief Sticks to Facts
BELLVILLE, OH – If you thought small-town politics were easy going, you haven’t met Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus — a man who apparently believes “Mayor” also means “Mobile Law Enforcement Unit.” While Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus continues to insist he “accidentally” hit a fleeing suspect with his car not once, but twice, Bellville Police Chief Jon Fletcher spent Friday doing what no one in Butler government seems inclined to do: delivering a clear, fact-driven account of what actually happened.
The July 11 incident, now the subject of viral surveillance footage and a Richland County Prosecutor review, left 37-year-old Anthony Ward with a broken leg after he bolted from Butler Police Chief Eric Winbigler during a warrant arrest. Ward, as it turns out, wasn’t just any fugitive — he was wanted by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Adult Parole Authority as a Violator at Large, considered “dangerous and possibly armed.” Ward had been imprisoned in 2021 after being convicted of sexual battery of a minor, a third-degree felony, and violated the conditions of his supervision.
According to Chief Fletcher, the chaos began shortly after 7 p.m. when Dingus phoned Chief Winbigler to report seeing Ward as a passenger in a black Chevy Traverse at the Duke & Duchess gas station on West Main Street in Butler. The vehicle was driven by Ward’s 77-year-old grandmother, Mary Hunter. When Winbigler arrived, Hunter reportedly began yelling at the uniformed chief, ignoring commands to step back, while Ward crouched down inside the car to avoid being spotted.
After repeated orders, Ward showed his hands but bolted as soon as he was told about his outstanding warrant, shouting “I’m not going back to prison,” sparking a brief physical struggle before Ward pulled free and sprinted away. Chief Winbigler gave chase on foot — until Mayor Dingus, apparently feeling his job title included “deputy for the day,” accelerated past the chief and “pursued Mr. Ward into the roadway,” striking him with the front bumper. Ward, slid off the hood and kept running into Independence Alley — only for Dingus to steer into the alley and clip Ward again, this time catching the fugitive’s leg in the wheel well.
Bellville officers arrived moments later to find Ward on the ground and Dingus’s vehicle stopped nearby.
The entire incident — from Ward slipping free to his second collision — lasted roughly twelve seconds, according to video reviewed by investigators.
Dingus, for his part, told officers Ward had simply “run into the front of his car” and that he turned into the alley “to prevent further accidents,” a version of events contradicted by Fletcher’s timeline and by the widely circulated footage.
In the press conference at the Bellville Police Department, Fletcher emphasized that his agency — unlike the Village of Butler — had no political interest in protecting Dingus. “We don’t have skin in the game,” Fletcher said. “It didn’t happen in our town. It wasn’t our mayor. Our job is to provide a non-biased, fact-driven report for the prosecutor.”
Fletcher confirmed his department seized Dingus’s vehicle, documented the impact damage, interviewed all parties twice, and forwarded the case file to the Richland County Prosecutor, who will determine if Dingus faces charges.
Pressed on whether Dingus was tested for drugs or alcohol, Fletcher said no tests were performed but officers observed no signs of impairment. Asked if it’s normal for a mayor to involve himself in active arrests, Fletcher answered simply, “Commonly, no.”
Body camera footage from Butler officers remains unavailable, as Bellville uses a different system and cannot release it. Fletcher pointedly reminded reporters that the footage’s release is entirely up to Butler officials. Who so far have been noticeably quiet.
Ward, meanwhile, is recovering from his injuries while awaiting his return to custody. Hunter could face charges depending on the prosecutor’s review.
As for Dingus, his future may now rest in the prosecutor’s hands. Whether his vehicular interventions qualify as “accidents,” “public service,” or something prosecutors call “vehicular assault” will be decided in the coming weeks. Until then, Bellville’s Chief Fletcher continues to do what Dingus apparently won’t — give the public an honest accounting of events, even if that means confirming that the mayor of a neighboring village took law enforcement into his own, somewhat reckless, hands.
One might suggest Dingus take a page from Fletcher’s book on crisis management: when in doubt, just tell people the truth.
For now, Bellville’s Chief Fletcher remains the only one willing to publicly connect the dots, while Mayor Dingus’ silence continues to speak volumes.
According to the police report, Mayor Dingus’s account of what happen,
Mayor Wesley Dingus voluntarily met with investigators at the Butler Police Department and, after being advised of his Miranda rights, provided his account. Dingus stated that on the evening of July 11, he was driving near the Duke & Duchess when he observed Ward, whom he recognized as a wanted individual. Dingus contacted Officer Deel (off duty at the time) and was informed that Chief Winbigler would respond.
Dingus said he followed Mary Hunter’s vehicle, in which Ward was a passenger, as it moved between driveways and eventually stopped at the Duke & Duchess. When Ward fled from Chief Winbigler, Dingus claimed he was already pulling onto Elm Street in his red vehicle when Ward suddenly ran toward him. He stated Ward may have pushed off his vehicle and continued running. Dingus said he attempted to clear Elm Street to avoid causing a traffic hazard, driving forward into Independence Alley at an estimated 4 mph.
Dingus admitted he felt his vehicle hit something as he entered the alley but claimed he did not realize he had run over Ward until exiting the car. He insisted he was not attempting to strike or harm Ward but was trying to assist Chief Winbigler in containing a fleeing suspect. Dingus voluntarily consented to a full evidentiary search of his vehicle, which was seized and secured at the Bellville Police Department for examination.
Ward’s Statement
Anthony Ward, interviewed later at the hospital, alleged that Mayor Dingus had intentionally tried to “run [him] over” and “kill” him. He admitted to fleeing from Chief Winbigler, claiming he feared for his life despite never previously running from law enforcement. Ward asserted that Dingus’s red car “flew out of the Duke & Duchess lot,” struck him, and rolled over his leg in Independence Alley. Ward denied any drug use and acknowledged his warrant, admitting he had absconded from a Lebanon, Ohio halfway house out of fear of being pressured to sell drugs.
Additional Witness: Mary Hunter
Mary Hunter, Ward’s grandmother, provided a less consistent account, frequently diverting to unrelated topics. However, she alleged that Mayor Dingus had been following her and Ward aggressively prior to the incident, revving his engine and acting as if he intended to strike them. Hunter claimed Dingus “peeled out” of the Duke & Duchess parking lot with the intent to run Ward over and further alleged Dingus threatened her afterward, warning her to “shut up and not say anything.” She also accused Dingus’s wife of physically shoving her during a confrontation.
Chief Winbigler’s Account
Chief Winbigler stated he responded to the Duke & Duchess after being notified of Ward’s presence. Upon arrival, he confirmed Ward’s identity in Mary Hunter’s vehicle and observed furtive movements from Ward, who appeared to be reaching toward a bookbag. After Ward was advised of his warrant and exited the vehicle, he fled on foot.
Chief Winbigler attempted to pursue and deploy his Taser, but the device malfunctioned. During the pursuit, he observed Mayor Dingus’s red vehicle blocking Elm Street as Ward approached. Winbigler stated it appeared Dingus was trying to corral Ward or block his path rather than intentionally strike him. He recalled seeing Ward collide with Dingus’s car near the front passenger headlight before both continued toward Independence Alley, where Dingus again attempted to cut Ward off. It was unclear whether Ward’s severe leg injury resulted from the tire rolling over him, a fall, or a combination of both.
