On July 6, 2018 the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an assault that occurred in the 1000 Block of Shady Lane in Sullivan, MO. A deputy was dispatched to meet the female victim at Mercy Hospital in Washington. Upon interviewing the victim, she reported she had been assaulted multiple times and held against her will by a man between July 5th and 6th at his Sullivan home. The deputy noticed the victim had visible injuries consistent with an assault. The victim identified the male suspect as Randy Lee Ash, age 51. It was reported Ash was in possession of firearms in his home during the assault. Investigators were called to the scene. A search warrant for evidence was obtained by Franklin County detectives.
Randy Ash was known to investigators as a convicted felon with a violent criminal history. He is the respondent in two Franklin County adult protection orders. Most recently, investigators learned that Crawford County Sheriff’s Office was looking for Ash after he was pursued in a vehicle and attempted to strike a deputy’s vehicle during the pursuit. Due to the violent history and reported firearm possession and attempts to elude law enforcement, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was activated to assist in executing the search warrant.
Prior to the execution of the search warrant Crawford County issued an arrest warrant on Randy Ash for Assault 1st on Law Enforcement. Additionally, two other Franklin County arrest warrants and a probation violation warrant were issued on Ash for drug possession and domestic assault stemming from previous reports. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies, detectives, SWAT team operators, and the Multi County Violent Crimes and Narcotics Enforcement Unit investigators responded to Ash’s home early Tuesday morning, July 10, 2018 to execute the search warrant and attempt service of the arrest warrants. The home was unoccupied at that time.
Detectives and deputies began working leads and searching the area for Ash. Around 10:00 am Tuesday morning Ash’s vehicle was located at a motel in the 2700 block of Hwy 100 in Gray Summit. Detectives learned Ash was located in one of the motel rooms. They called more personnel to the scene to contain him. Once deputies arrived they hailed for Ash to come out of the room and he surrendered without incident.
Currently, Randy Lee Ash is being held at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for the warrants out of Franklin and Crawford counties. The total bond amount of all active warrants was $245,000. The investigation of the assault is ongoing.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Press Release
7-12-18
On 7-11-2018, information was gathered with a possible location of 45 year old, Brian Ashburn, who had active warrants and had been charged with 2 counts of Felony DWI. Deputies responded to the 2000 block of Sycamore Lane, St. Clair, to attempt to take him into custody. Upon arrival to the residence, two white males were encountered on the carport. One male fled into the residence while the other complied with our requests. This subject stated he did not know the subjects name he was speaking to and he himself had just arrived at the residence. A perimeter was set up and verbal communication was started to have the occupants exit the residence. Through this effort, four other subjects came outside the residence but none of them were Ashburn.
The homeowner advised there were several more subjects inside the residence but she could not name all of them, nor would the exit the residence. After a period of time, with no contact, it was decided to have the Franklin County Swat Team respond.
The Franklin County Swat Team entered the residence, locating four more people inside, one being Mr. Ashburn. Mr. Ashburn was taken into custody on his warrants. Two other subjects were arrested on outstanding warrants, Cheyanne West, a 23 year old female from St. Clair who was wanted by Jefferson County for traffic charges and Walter Stahlman, a 20 year old male from St. Clair who had a traffic warrant.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Steve Pelton
Franklin County Sheriff
Randy Ash was known to investigators as a convicted felon with a violent criminal history. He is the respondent in two Franklin County adult protection orders. Most recently, investigators learned that Crawford County Sheriff’s Office was looking for Ash after he was pursued in a vehicle and attempted to strike a deputy’s vehicle during the pursuit. Due to the violent history and reported firearm possession and attempts to elude law enforcement, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was activated to assist in executing the search warrant.
Prior to the execution of the search warrant Crawford County issued an arrest warrant on Randy Ash for Assault 1st on Law Enforcement. Additionally, two other Franklin County arrest warrants and a probation violation warrant were issued on Ash for drug possession and domestic assault stemming from previous reports. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies, detectives, SWAT team operators, and the Multi County Violent Crimes and Narcotics Enforcement Unit investigators responded to Ash’s home early Tuesday morning, July 10, 2018 to execute the search warrant and attempt service of the arrest warrants. The home was unoccupied at that time.
Detectives and deputies began working leads and searching the area for Ash. Around 10:00 am Tuesday morning Ash’s vehicle was located at a motel in the 2700 block of Hwy 100 in Gray Summit. Detectives learned Ash was located in one of the motel rooms. They called more personnel to the scene to contain him. Once deputies arrived they hailed for Ash to come out of the room and he surrendered without incident.
Currently, Randy Lee Ash is being held at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for the warrants out of Franklin and Crawford counties. The total bond amount of all active warrants was $245,000. The investigation of the assault is ongoing.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Press Release
7-12-18
On 7-11-2018, information was gathered with a possible location of 45 year old, Brian Ashburn, who had active warrants and had been charged with 2 counts of Felony DWI. Deputies responded to the 2000 block of Sycamore Lane, St. Clair, to attempt to take him into custody. Upon arrival to the residence, two white males were encountered on the carport. One male fled into the residence while the other complied with our requests. This subject stated he did not know the subjects name he was speaking to and he himself had just arrived at the residence. A perimeter was set up and verbal communication was started to have the occupants exit the residence. Through this effort, four other subjects came outside the residence but none of them were Ashburn.
The homeowner advised there were several more subjects inside the residence but she could not name all of them, nor would the exit the residence. After a period of time, with no contact, it was decided to have the Franklin County Swat Team respond.
The Franklin County Swat Team entered the residence, locating four more people inside, one being Mr. Ashburn. Mr. Ashburn was taken into custody on his warrants. Two other subjects were arrested on outstanding warrants, Cheyanne West, a 23 year old female from St. Clair who was wanted by Jefferson County for traffic charges and Walter Stahlman, a 20 year old male from St. Clair who had a traffic warrant.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Steve Pelton
Franklin County Sheriff
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