BLANCHESTER — Police are seeking a suspect in a stabbing that occurred Sunday night in the village.
At around 10 p.m. Sunday, police were called to numerous people fighting at the corner of E. Cherry and S. Broadway Streets.
The first arriving officer, Ptl. Kristen Jeffers, found a man suffering multiple stab wounds on the sidewalk. Ptl. Jeffers took steps to stop the bleeding from the man’s wounds while awaiting the arrival of an ambulance, stated Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt.
The victim was identified as Christopher Burress, 36, of Blanchester. Burress was taken to Miami Valley Hospital via helicopter.
“Ptl. Ty Smith and Ptl. Jeffers interviewed witnesses who identified the man who stabbed Burress as Corey Peck, 30, of State Route 131 in rural Clermont County,” said Reinbolt. “He fled the scene prior to police arriving. Other Blanchester police officers were called into work from home.”
As officers were processing the crime scene, they received a report of a car wrecked on the railroad tracks between S. Broadway and Wright Streets. Officers requested that the Ohio State Highway Patrol handle that incident and we are grateful for their assistance.
“As officers continued to process the crime scene, the staff at Blanchester Emergency Medical Service called police stating that someone involved in the stabbing was at their office on W. Center Street,” said Reinbolt. “When an officer arrived, he learned that the person was Peck, and Peck fled from the officer on foot.
“At that point we requested the assistance of any agency with a tracking dog, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Mason Police Department responded to that request. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office also offered the use of a drone, an offer we accepted.
“Officers caught glimpses of Peck in the downtown Blanchester area several times over the next few hours. Deputies from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the manhunt, as did the Hamilton Township Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Peck was not located.
“Early [Monday] morning I spoke via telephone with Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew McCoy, who began the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for Peck for felonious assault. Peck’s criminal record shows 23 arrests in the State of Tennessee, the most recent in July for aggravated assault. That case was settled through a plea bargain in which the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and Peck was fined $10.
“Peck was last seen in the downtown Blanchester area at around 2 a.m. He should be considered armed and dangerous. He is a white male, 6’2”, with a beard and shaved head. If you see him, call 911 immediately.”
Anyone having information on Peck’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Blanchester Police Department at 937-783-2431.
