A Wayne County grand jury has formally indicted Chad A. Palmer, the Orrville man accused of stabbing Sheriff Tom Ballinger and Sgt. Dan Broome during a May 12 call in Congress Township. The new charges deepen a case that already triggered a multi‑agency manhunt and a brief lockdown at nearby schools. Both officers were treated at local hospitals and later released.
Charges and Indictment
The grand jury returned a 17‑count indictment tomorrow against 33‑year‑old Palmer, charging him with attempted murder along with a mix of felony and misdemeanor offenses tied to the stabbings and the search that followed. The counts range from attempted murder and felonious assault to attempted aggravated murder, trespassing in a habitation, grand theft of a motor vehicle and obstructing official business. Misdemeanor charges include aggravated menacing and criminal trespass, according to FOX 8.
How the Attack Unfolded
Law enforcement officials say Sheriff Ballinger and Sgt. Broome were stabbed after responding to a suspicious‑person call on Congress Road in Congress Township. Ballinger suffered a wound to his forearm, while Broome was more seriously injured before both were ultimately discharged from area hospitals. Ballinger later told reporters he “didn’t remember seeing the knife,” according to WOIO.
Manhunt, Social Video and Body Camera
After the attack, investigators say the suspect took off on foot, prompting officers from multiple counties, along with state troopers and federal partners, to set up a wide perimeter. Authorities say Palmer posted live video from inside a shed, doused himself with gasoline and climbed onto the roof before negotiators talked him down. Investigators have released body‑camera footage showing parts of that tense encounter, according to Ashland Source.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
Palmer was arraigned in Wayne County Common Pleas Court, where he entered not‑guilty pleas and was ordered held without bond, court records show. Those records and local reporting indicate he remains in jail on the new indictment and is scheduled for a competency hearing tomorrow. Local outlets have highlighted that upcoming hearing on the court calendar.
Legal Outlook
Attempted murder and felonious assault are felony offenses under Ohio law and can carry lengthy prison terms, with penalties subject to enhancement when the alleged victim is a peace officer. Ohio statutes allow for mandatory or increased sentences in certain situations, which prosecutors could seek if Palmer is convicted, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Local Context and Background
Court and sheriff’s office records reviewed for this story show Palmer has prior convictions, including a 2017 felonious‑assault guilty plea, and had been on parole. Prosecutors and the sheriff’s office say investigators are still reviewing evidence as the case moves toward additional hearings, and officials did not immediately offer further comment on the grand jury’s action.
