CHESTER — Officers from the Meigs County Sheriff’s Department responded to a dispute call just after noon on Monday, with the situation escalating to a standoff situation.

Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood stated that Deputies Adam Smith and Joe Barnhart responded to the call of a dispute between Jack Ritchie and his co-partner in a vehicle business.

According to Wood, the dispute escalated with Ritchie threatening his co-partner with a gun and then threatening Deputy Smith.

As of press time Wood, along with Ritchie’s son who arrived at the scene from out of town, and officers from several departments are working to talk Ritchie out of the residence.

Wood stated he is certain that there is no one else in the residence.

A statement on the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page Monday afternoon read in part,

The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office is currently on the scene of an active standoff situation on [Ohio] 248. For the safety of our officers on the scene, we are not releasing much information at this time. We ask that all unnecessary traffic avoid the area while we maintain a level of safety for the public.

Officers with the Athens and Washington County Emergency Response Units, the Washington County Sheriff and Ohio State Highway Patrol have been on scene throughout the situation to assist local officers.

In addition, Sheriff Wood noted that Doug Lavender and Bob Byer from Meigs EMS, the Chester and Bashan Volunteer Fire Departments and the Ohio Department of Transportation have assisted his office throughout the day.

Ohio 248 has been closed in both directions in the area where the standoff is taking place. Chief Deputy Charlie Mansfield stated late Monday afternoon that officers are not keeping residents from traveling to their homes, but are limiting traffic in the area.

Updates to this breaking news story are being provided on www.mydailysentinel.com.