A Fairfield Township man already on the sex offender registry is back behind bars after police say they found a hefty stash of guns at two Hamilton properties, triggering a full SWAT and bomb squad response.
Fairfield Township police arrested 43-year-old Adam Kendel after officers serving search warrants at separate locations uncovered a large cache of firearms, including sawed-off shotguns, pistols, and numerous rifles. Investigators say they moved in after a tip that Kendel might be stockpiling weapons and grenades, and he was booked into the Butler County Jail while detectives lined up additional charges. Concerns over public safety brought in extra tactical resources to help with the searches.
The Butler County Regional SWAT Team and the bomb squad first served a search warrant in the 1900 block of Fairfax Avenue, then moved to a second property in the 1800 block of Grand Boulevard in Hamilton, where detectives say they found most of the weapons, according to WHIO. Police reported that the haul included sawed-off shotguns and a mix of pistols and rifles, and officers locked down the scenes while teams worked to catalog every item.
Kendel is a Tier II registered sex offender who previously served four years in prison after a 2009 conviction for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, officials said. Investigators also told WSAZ that the Ashland, Kentucky, police department has an active case involving the same juvenile victim, prompting a multi-jurisdictional review that now stretches across state lines.
According to reporting by WSAZ, police received a tip that Kendel could have grenades, ammunition, and enough supplies to last six months, and that he at times barricaded doors and windows. Given the perceived risk, authorities called in specialized units before serving the warrants and ultimately cleared both properties without incident, officials said.
What Officers Recovered
Detectives said the searches turned up several firearms, including sawed-off shotguns, at the Hamilton address, along with additional guns at the Fairfax Avenue property, according to WLWT. Authorities have not released an exact weapons count, and investigators are still working through the evidence list as the case moves forward.
Legal Next Steps
Police say detectives plan to present additional charges to the Butler County Prosecutor's Office for review, and Kendel remained in custody at the Butler County Jail pending those filings, according to WHIO. The prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment as authorities continued processing evidence Wednesday night.
Officials described the investigation as multi-jurisdictional because of the connection to Kentucky and said the Butler County Regional SWAT and Bomb Squad were brought in due to the potential danger, WSAZ reported. No injuries were reported, and the probe remains active as detectives prepare their case for prosecutors.
