BLANCHESTER — Two people with outstanding warrants — one of whom was hiding in the crawl space of a rented home — were arrested Friday morning, according to police.

At around 9:45 a.m. a Blanchester police officer noticed heavy smoke that appeared to be coming from the roof of the house at 115 S. Columbus St.

”An officer responded and found brush being burned in the back yard, and a long-haired man in the back yard, who immediately disappeared from view,” said BPD Chief Scott Reinbolt.

He said the police department was in possession of information indicating two fugitives have been residing in the house — Samantha Floyd and Billie Shoemaker.

”Additional Blanchester police officers responded to the home, which was not on fire,” said Reinbolt.

Officers knocked on the doors to the residence, which were not answered. The owner of the property, which is a rental, was contacted.

Reinbolt said the owner stated she was already on her way to the house from Goshen to speak to the tenants regarding unpaid rent. When she arrived, she permitted officers to enter the home.

“Inside, officers located Samantha Floyd and another man in an upstairs bedroom,” said Reinbolt. “Officers then located Shoemaker hiding in a crawl space.”

Both Floyd and Shoemaker were placed under arrest.

Floyd, 32, was arrested on two outstanding felony warrants — one for aggravated possession of drugs in Clinton County, the other for violating the terms of her probation in Montgomery County on an aggravated possession of drugs case, said Reinbolt.

He said Shoemaker, 40, was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for violating the terms of his probation on a Clinton County domestic violence conviction.

Floyd and Shoemaker were transported to the county jail.