Gun-carrying man raises alarm in Ottawa

The Ottawa Police Department is seeking information about a man who reportedly walked into the Ottawa City Hall on Friday morning with a firearm. Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 9:30 a.m. after an employee from the building alerted authorities.

Police evacuated the building but did not find anyone with a firearm. Video surveillance reviewed by authorities did not record anyone with a weapon entering City Hall.

According to police, several people also reported seeing a man walking near City Hall with a rifle. A news release from the Ottawa Police Department stated that there was no evidence of a crime, but that the “police would like to know the identity of the individual and the reason why he was carrying a gun in a heavily traveled area of the business district.”

Anyone with information on the incident can contact the Ottawa Police Department at 785-242-2561, ext. 414.