Local ATF Agent Arrested Again
By GABE WELLSOfficers from at least four police departments surrounded federal agent James Sirbaugh in Bridgeport Thursday after his presence in Belmont County forced the lockdown of the entire St. Clairsville-Richland City School District.
Just weeks removed from a standoff with police at his Ohio County home, Sirbaugh was arrested Thursday on Ohio 7 for violating the bond conditions that resulted from his Aug. 21 arrest, according to Ohio County Prosecutor Scott Smith.
Sirbaugh - a special agent who was placed on leave by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives following the apparent domestic dispute at his house on Stonegate Drive - has been on house arrest in Virginia, where he has been living with family. He met with his attorney, Kevin Neiswonger, at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Wheeling area; he was then supposed to travel back to Virginia.
However, Smith said Sirbaugh, who is monitored with a court-ordered tracking system, drew the attention of authorities when he traveled into Ohio. He said Sirbaugh was with a convicted felon at the time of his arrest, which also is a violation of his bond.
"We were on top of this," Smith said. "We noticed he was lingering here in the Wheeling area and traveled into Ohio. Coupled with the fact his wife works in Ohio, those factors were the catalyst for taking action."
St. Clairsville School Resource Officer Jeff Gazdik said local police departments were advised to be on the lookout for Sirbaugh after his wife, a St. Clairsville High School teacher, learned her husband was in the area. He said the schools were subsequently locked down for the next two hours.
Sirbaugh was arrested at 11:41 a.m. Thursday in the southbound lane of Ohio 7 near the Bridgeport exit by a Belmont County sheriff's deputy. Units from Bridgeport and Martins Ferry police departments and the Ohio State Highway Patrol also were at the scene.
On Aug. 21, Sirbaugh allegedly slashed tires and threw items from a second-floor window of his home. The incident drew the response of West Virginia State Police and the Ohio County Sheriff's Department. Comments reportedly made by Sirbaugh prompted officers to search the home for explosives, and police blocked the public from the area until their investigation was complete.
Smith said he does not know when Sirbaugh's extradition hearing will be held. He said he would be opposed to Sirbaugh being released again. Smith also said he did not approve of the suspect's recent release from a medical facility.
"I objected to his release from the hospital about 10 days ago," he said. "... In order to hold someone against their will in a hospital setting, a doctor has to be of the opinion that person is mentally ill and a danger to himself and others."
St. Clairsville-Richland City School District Superintendent Walt Skaggs said the students were not aware of the circumstances surrounding the lockdown. He said they handled the situation well and without fear. He noted the staff monitored the school grounds, and he was pleased with the way the situation was handled. Skaggs called the lockdown a precaution.
Smith noted no threats were made Thursday, and he said Sirbaugh did not make contact with his wife. He said the woman with Sirbaugh at the time of his arrest Thursday was released and is not facing charges.
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WVU1986
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09-19-09 10:45 AM
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Set-Are you kidding me? Yes, there are a lot of people who are felons. And you know why? Because they, unlike me, have broken the law. The law is the law. If you break it, you pay the price, no matter what the offense is. The bottom line is, this guy endangered his family and neighbors. He broke the law, was given moderate punishment and did not follow the guidelines of home confinement. Much like the father who is now in jail for violating his home confinement for the young boy who died while drinking at his house. Different offense, but it was a home confinement violation as well. I believe in giving him the opportunity to a fair trial, however, he had no business being in OH. How would you have felt if your child attended St.C.High School and the possibility of danger was ignored?
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wheelingizded
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09-19-09 8:48 AM
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Just goes to show, just because you have a badge doesn't make you a law abiding citezan or even a good person. His bond should be revoked.
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SETTHESTORYSTRAIGHT
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09-19-09 8:35 AM
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First off let me apologize to those of you that I offended by using all caps.....Now on to WVU1986.... What rock do you live under? and your ignorance makes me wonder how many skeletons are in your closet? So what so was a convicted felon.... alot of people are? is she a murdererd, a sex offender, etc or do you even know? I have one question.... do any of you sincerely want to know the true or dwell on the sensationalism of the story?
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PCGS70
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09-18-09 11:09 PM
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Put this jack off in jail where he belongs.
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EllisWyatt
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09-18-09 7:06 PM
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I used to know a guy who worked for the ATF. According to him, their own people called the agency "All The F--KUPS".
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WVU1986
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09-18-09 5:56 PM
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The question I have is, should he be under house arrest in Virginia where no one seems to be watching him? Obviously, he is associating himself with a felon, which is against the terms of his release, let alone traveling to OH. Should he not be monitored here locally? How will they know if she joins him again in VA?
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ConservativeKaty
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09-18-09 4:19 PM
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I agree with the shouting being rude observation. Capital punishment!
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justmytake
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09-18-09 3:01 PM
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Tru the article says he had permission to come her to visit his lawyer. This particular lawyer has an office in Moundsville.
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true2bun
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09-18-09 2:57 PM
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if he was house arrest in VA, how did he fet all the way to WV-Ohio before THE TRACKING DEVIE ALERTED THE AUTHORITIES I ASK YOU NOT
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justmytake
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09-18-09 2:05 PM
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When this whole story broke I felt simpaty for the guy. Mental illness can strik any one. At this point he's either just a rear end, or he's refusing to get the help needed to allow him to function normally. In today's world there are many drugs that can control the brain imbalances that cause most mental ilness. Aparently this guy either refuses to take his meds, or is just another criminal. I guess time will tell.
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WVU1986
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09-18-09 12:39 PM
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I believe that this guy has a right to a trial etc. However, he was told what the terms of his release were. Like it or not, he violated the terms of his release by being with her. He had to have known that the girl he was with has a felony record, which was a condition of his release to not associate with any felons. Being an officer, that's a "no-brainer" for him and if he claims to not have known, he's a fool. She has a long history in the valley of being in trouble, he had to have known.
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rover1958
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09-18-09 11:48 AM
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SETTHESSTORYSTRAIGHT - In case you are new to the internet, please know that 'netiquette' is to not use full capital letters except to emphasize a point now and then. Using full caps constantly is hard to read and irritates everybody.
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bbmcfarland
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09-18-09 11:02 AM
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SETTHESTORYSTRAIGHT -- Don't you know it is rude to shout?
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CoachC
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09-18-09 10:58 AM
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Who is this clown?
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WhachewtalkinboutWillis
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09-18-09 10:47 AM
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Kudos to the St. Clairsville-Richland City School District for their prompt and professional response to this potential incident. Emergency/contingency planning and implementation are paramount to our children’s safety. Hopefully other school districts will follow suit and learn from this scenario. Did it upset some parents that feel they need to be notified of every action that takes in the schools – sure. They can vent to one another after they have tucked their children safely in bed thanks to a well acted on plan! Nice Job!!
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wonderwhy
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09-18-09 10:33 AM
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How much money is being spent to defend and protect this guy? I agree with justmytake.
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justmytake
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09-18-09 9:40 AM
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I hope this whole matter gets put under control before someone gets hurt. If he has mental health issues and is unwilling to seek treatment then they need to throw the book at him. At least that way his family and the public will be safe.
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WVU1986
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09-18-09 8:54 AM
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pr9000- The convicted felon was the girl on the news last night being interviewed saying it was like "Law and Order" and she showed her poor little scraped foot bleeding as a result.
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pr9000
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09-18-09 8:40 AM
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I wish the reporter could state, you know, who the felon was. That might be interesting information not on the police report, but it would require some footwork.
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tunasandwich
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09-18-09 8:29 AM
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SETTHESTORYSTRAIGHT you need to understand how things work in Ohio county. If you have money or are friends with Scott Smith you get kid gloves, if you are poor you get hammered. Its that simple, this guy wasn't charged with kidnapping as others have been in Ohio county. Do a little research before you jump on Spork.
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marhaba
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09-18-09 8:23 AM
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settherecord- The fact that he is only charged with misdemeanors is evidence of preferential treatment by the Ohio County prosecutor’s office. Scott Smith routinely overcharges poor people in similar situations with felony offenses. This criminal has been coddled and protected by the system because he was an agent. Most poor people, many of whom have severe mental illnesses, can only dream of Scott Smith "objecting to release from the hospital." They only receive Scott objecting to release from the Northern Regional Jail.
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SETTHESTORYSTRAIGHT
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09-18-09 7:30 AM
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3PRONGEDSPORK ..... IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE USING THE BUDDY SYSTEM THIS MAN WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN IN JAIL. A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE AND ALL THIS? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO U KNOW THAT WERE ACCUSSED AND/OR CHARGED WITH A DV AND NOTHING HAPPEN?? THAT WERE CONVICTED AND GOT THEIR GUNS BACK?? IT SEEMS TO ME THEY ARE MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF THIS AGENT BECAUSE HE IS IN FACT AN AGENT
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SETTHESTORYSTRAIGHT
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09-18-09 7:27 AM
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THINK ABOUT IT... THIS GENTLEMAN IS A HIGHLY TRAINED OFFICER AND IS VERY INTELLIGENT. THE GPS WAS MONITORING HIS EVERY MOVE... LAST TIME IS CHECKED BRIDGEPORT WAS NO WHERE NEAR ST. CLAIRSVILLE. WHAT YOU ALL DONT KNOW - BEIDES THE TRUTH.... IS THIS PERSON WAS APPROVED THROUGH THE COURT TO BE IN OHIO PRIOR TO AND AFTER HIS MEETING WITH HIS ATTORNEY. HE IN NO WAY INTENDED TO OR DID VIOLATE HIS PROBATION BY DOING SO. IF HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A "FELON" CUT HIM A BREAK... MAYBE HE DIDN'T KN AND DOES THAT MEAN THAT SINCE THAT PERSON MAFDE A MISTAKE T ONE POINT THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE?
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Captain
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09-18-09 6:58 AM
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Are they telling us that this guy, highly trained law enforcement officer, didn't know that his ankle bracelet would report his leaving the restrictions of his bond conditions? Not only is he dangerous, he's not very bright. And did you see the photo of his house? He's been paid handsomly!
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WVU1986
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09-18-09 2:05 AM
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He has been with the convicted felon in VA the whole time. She even said on the news last night that she just wanted to get him back to VA....Shouldn't she as a convicted felon not be in trouble for being with him?
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