The Clark County Sheriff’s Office awarded commendations to several deputies 
and one local resident for their courageous actions in the line of duty at the Board of Clark County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday morning at the Springview Government Center.
“Today the Clark County Sheriff’s Office says congratulations and thank you to some of the men and women who protect this community every day,” said Clark County Sheriff Chris Clark. “Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office received commendations for heroic events like saving the life of a couple trapped in a house fire to the apprehension of a homicide suspect. Their actions are a testament to and a small example of the bravery and dedication the men and women of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office display daily.”
The deputies were awarded commendations for their efforts in saving the lives of Clark County residents, as well as the apprehension of homicide suspects.
“The men and women of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office risk their lives each and every day to ensure that our citizens are safe,” said Board President Sasha Rittenhouse. “I appreciate Sheriff Clark’s willingness to highlight these exceptional examples of law enforcement in our community. It’s a great reminder of what our first responders do every day to make our county a better place. We appreciate the collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office. It was an honor to be a part of today’s event.”
The commendations received at the event included:
Exceptional Service Award: Deputy Andrew Miller
Exceptional Action for Life-Saving: Todd Wiseman
On February 3, 2021, Deputy Andrew Miller and other units were dispatched to 124 Gordon Road on report of a house fire. Upon arrival at the scene, Deputy Miller discovered that the house was almost fully engulfed in fire with heavy smoke inside the structure. Deputy Miller and Mr. Todd Wiseman, a neighbor and civilian, entered the flaming residence to locate the occupant, John Eidmiller, after learning he was still inside the residence. Finding Mr. Eidmiller down inside the house, Deputy Miller and Mr. Wiseman, at extreme risk to their own lives, secured Mr. Eidmiller
and dragged him from the burning home. Without their swift and valorous action, Mr. Eidmiller would have suffered a horrific and imminent death.
Meritorious Service Award: Sergeant Diane Norris and Deputy Jeremy Nangle
On April 25, 2022, then-Deputy Diane Norris and Deputy Jeremy Nangle were dispatched to 1940 Devon Drive in Moorefield Township, in reference to a subject on a fall, reportedly not breathing. Upon arriving, Sergeant Norris and Deputy Nangle discovered that the resident, Teresa Lininger, had collapsed in the shower of her home, and was in respiratory and cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, Sergeant Norris and Deputy Nangle pulled the victim from the shower and used both an AED and continuous CPR until Moorefield Twp. EMS personnel arrived to take over patient care. Due to their quick action in the absence of EMS assistance, and their well-executed CPR and AED usage, Ms. Lininger is alive today to enjoy the presence of her family.
Homicide Apprehension Award: Sergeant Denise Jones, Sergeant Diane Norris, Detective Brian Melchi, Detective Ross Eubanks, Detective Nicholas Moody and Deputy Ryan Weaver
On March 17, 2024, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Greene County Sheriff's Office, and the Yellow Springs Police were in search of Jackson Bleything, wanted in connection with a ruthless murder of a resident of Yellow Springs, wherein he shot a random elderly victim
through the door of her home. Mr. Bleything also attempted to target another random resident of Yellow Springs in a similar fashion, and while being sought, Mr. Bleything fled into Clark County. Seeking the assistance of the Clark County Sheriff's Office, Ohio BCI made contact to coordinate a response. Sergeant Jones, Sergeant Norris, Detective Melchi, Detective Eubanks, Detective Moodv and Deputy Weaver all responded to assist in locating Mr. Blevthing at his father's home in German Township. Sergeant Jones and Sergeant Norris maintained a ready response at the scene for Special Operations activities if they became necessary. Detective Eubanks and Detective Melchi assisted in visual surveillance of the property and ensured that all paperwork was obtained and ready at hand if an entry to the house by Special Operations personnel or detectives was necessary.
Deputy Weaver, assisted by Detective Moody, using an Unmanned Aircraft, maintained constant surveillance, even in the dark of night, to ensure Mr. Bleything did not escape, to ensure the safety of the law enforcement personnel present at the scene, and to recover any evidence Mr. Bleything attempted to discard to hinder his prosecution. As the incident wore to a close, these six Clark County Sheriff’s Office personnel assisted the other agencies to take Mr. Bleything into custody without injury to themselves or the suspect, guaranteeing that there would be no further danger to the public, and that Mr. Bleything would answer for his crimes.
Homicide Apprehension Award: Lieutenant Kristopher Shultz, Sergeant Christina Evans-Fisher, Sergeant Denise Jones, Detective Brian Melchi, 
Detective Nicholas Moody, Detective Branden McDuffie, Detective Ross Eubanks, Deputy Ryan Weaver and Deputy Jaime Payne
On October 2, 2024, after a lengthy investigation into the death of a four-month old infant, Detective Brian Melchi obtained secret indictments against the parents of the child, Landan Jennings and April Seiker. The deceased infant had suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head and had also exhibited other injuries in various states of healing, indicating that the child had suffered abuse for most of life. Detective Melchi and other personnel developed an operations plan to enable a swift apprehension of the two wanted individuals. Learning their patterns of behavior, the personnel assigned to the operation began surveillance of the two wanted subjects. Landan Jennings was located at his mother's home, and when alerted to the presence of law enforcement outside the house, became non-compliant and through surprise and swift action, was also taken into custody without injury to law enforcement or the suspect.