ATWATER, Ohio — Deputies with the Portage County Sheriff's Office arrested a man Tuesday night after another man was shot earlier in the day near the fairgrounds.
It all started around 4:30 p.m. when a woman driving on Fairground Road near the Portage County Fairgrounds came across a man down on the road and covered in blood. The woman helped the man into her car and called 911.
A nearby neighbor told News 5 he didn't hear anything that would've alerted him to danger nearby. The area is rural and gunshots aren't uncommon, he said.
"There's gunshots all the time, everyday, so there's nothing out of the ordinary when you hear gunshots," the neighbor said.
Portage County Sheriff Deputies, OSHP and Portage County SWAT team members searched the surrounding woods and area nearby for the suspect for hours. They blocked off the the area to look for the shooter. Police in tactical gear and vehicles could be seen staging on the road near the woods.
Members of the 4-H community, who were at the fairgrounds setting up for next week's festivities told News 5 they were asked to leave as a precaution.
Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski said SWAT team members found the man hiding in the woods and arrested him without incident. He added that there is no threat to anyone in the area and that the victim is recovering at the hospital and is conscious.
Charges haven't been announced.
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