Surveillance video from inside the Columbiana County Courthouse in Lisbon, Ohio, has gone viral after showing 20-year-old Timothy J. Reaggle of Wellsville breaking free from his handcuffs, throat-punching a security bailiff, trucking a second deputy to the ground, and sprinting toward the courthouse exit in a failed escape attempt. The incident occurred on Monday, September 15, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., moments after Reaggle was sentenced to one year in prison.
Both injured deputies, security bailiff Keith Thorn and security bailiff Steve Boyd, suffered broken bones. Thorn was seen on video bleeding from the head and face, holding a paper towel against his injuries while lying on the courthouse floor. Both were transported to a hospital and later released.
Reaggle was subdued near the courthouse’s front doors after Deputy Sheriff Nick Rusyn used a Taser. He never made it outside the building. He is currently being held at the Columbiana County Jail and is expected to face additional felony charges, including two counts of assault on a police officer, felony escape, and resisting arrest. The case will be presented to a county grand jury, according to Sheriff’s Office Captain Ryan Pike. Reaggle will be transported to state prison to begin serving his original one-year sentence while the investigation continues.
Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin confirmed the injuries and the expected charges. Attorney Larry Stacey II, who witnessed the attack, told reporters: “I’ve never seen anything like that in 35 years of practicing law.”
Exactly What Happened Inside the Columbiana County Courthouse
The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office released multiple angles of surveillance footage showing the full sequence of events. The video has been widely shared across social media and news outlets.
Second-by-Second Breakdown of the Courthouse Incident
| Sequence | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 1. Sentencing | Reaggle is sentenced to one year in prison by the judge; reportedly calls the sentence “fing bulls” and is seen crying as he exits the courtroom |
| 2. Escort | Security bailiff Keith Thorn handcuffs Reaggle and begins escorting him down a second-floor hallway |
| 3. Handcuff break | While being walked down the hallway, Reaggle breaks free from his handcuffs |
| 4. First attack | Reaggle turns and punches Thorn in the throat, knocking him backward |
| 5. Sprint | Reaggle immediately takes off running down the second-floor hallway |
| 6. Second collision | Reaggle crashes into security bailiff Steve Boyd at full speed, sending Boyd to the ground |
| 7. Stairwell | Reaggle races toward the courthouse stairwell with deputies in pursuit |
| 8. Pursuit | Deputy Sheriff Nick Rusyn chases Reaggle down the stairs |
| 9. Confrontation | Deputy Sheriff Coltan Vollnogle and Detective Jesse Smith confront Reaggle at the bottom of the stairs |
| 10. Second break | Reaggle initially breaks free from Vollnogle and Smith |
| 11. Sliding down steps | Video shows Reaggle sliding down the courthouse’s interior steps as he races toward the front doors |
| 12. Taser | Deputy Rusyn deploys his Taser, striking Reaggle |
| 13. Takedown | Officers wrestle Reaggle to the ground near the courthouse security station |
| 14. Recapture | Reaggle is handcuffed again and taken into custody; he never made it through the front doors |
| 15. Aftermath | People rush to assist the injured deputies; Thorn is seen lying on the floor bleeding from the head and face |
The entire escape attempt lasted only seconds, but the force of the attacks left both deputies with broken bones and one requiring ambulance transport to the hospital.
The Injuries to Deputies Keith Thorn and Steve Boyd
Sheriff McLaughlin confirmed that both deputies suffered broken bones during the attack. Here is what has been reported about each officer’s injuries.
Deputy Injuries
| Deputy | Role | What Happened | Injuries | Hospital Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Thorn | Security bailiff | Punched in the throat by Reaggle while escorting him from courtroom | Broken bones; head and facial injuries; bleeding | Transported by ambulance; treated and released |
| Steve Boyd | Security bailiff | Hit at full speed by Reaggle while running through the hallway | Broken bones | Transported to hospital; treated and released |
Video footage shows Thorn on the floor after the attack, bleeding from the head and holding a paper towel against his face. People in the courthouse are seen rushing to his aid.
Witness Leland Monte, who was in the courthouse at the time, described the scene: “Just a cr@zy situation. I was really concerned for the officer. All I was thinking about was if the sheriff was okay.”
Who Is Timothy Reaggle and What Was He Being Sentenced For
Timothy J. Reaggle, 20, is from Wellsville, Ohio, a small village in Columbiana County along the Ohio River near the West Virginia border. The sentencing hearing on September 15 was related to a case dating back to February 14, 2025.
Timothy Reaggle: Case Background
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy J. Reaggle |
| Age | 20 |
| Residence | Wellsville, Ohio |
| Original incident | February 14, 2025 |
| Original charges | Aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated menacing, failure to comply with a police order, two counts of assault |
| Plea | Guilty (July 2026) to lesser charges: third-degree felony aggravated burglary, fourth-degree felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor failure to comply |
| Sentence | One year in state prison |
| Status before hearing | Out on bond |
| Reaction to sentence | Reportedly called it “fing bulls“; was seen crying as he exited the courtroom |
The original February 2025 case involved accusations that Reaggle assaulted three people. According to local reports, one victim told authorities that Reaggle held a knife to his neck and threatened him before fleeing from police. The case included a failure-to-comply charge related to that pursuit.
Reaggle had been free on bond before the sentencing hearing, meaning he arrived at the courthouse as a free person and was being taken into custody for the first time to serve his sentence when the escape attempt occurred. That detail adds context to the urgency of his reaction: he went from walking free to facing immediate incarceration within minutes.
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The Officers Who Stopped the Escape and How They Did It
Four members of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the pursuit and recapture of Reaggle after his initial attack on Thorn and Boyd.
Officers Involved in the Recapture
| Officer | Role | Action During Incident |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff Nick Rusyn | Pursuing officer | Chased Reaggle down the courthouse stairs; deployed the Taser that ultimately stopped him |
| Deputy Sheriff Coltan Vollnogle | Responding officer | Confronted Reaggle at the bottom of the stairwell; briefly had him before Reaggle broke free |
| Detective Jesse Smith | Responding officer | Also confronted Reaggle at the bottom of the stairs alongside Vollnogle |
| Multiple officers | Final takedown | Wrestled Reaggle to the ground near the courthouse security station after the Taser deployment |
The sequence makes clear that Reaggle’s escape attempt was stopped by a coordinated response involving multiple officers. He broke free from at least two separate holds (first from Thorn, then from Vollnogle and Smith) before the Taser ended the chase.
The courthouse doors never opened for Reaggle. He was recaptured inside the building, near the security station at the main entrance.
New Charges Reaggle Now Faces After the Courthouse Attack
The escape attempt has created an entirely new legal case for Reaggle, separate from the one-year sentence he was just beginning to serve.
Expected Additional Charges
| Charge | Classification |
|---|---|
| Assault on a police officer (Keith Thorn) | Felony |
| Assault on a police officer (Steve Boyd) | Felony |
| Felony escape | Felony |
| Resisting arrest | To be determined |
Sheriff’s Office Captain Ryan Pike confirmed on Wednesday, September 17, that the charges would be presented to the Columbiana County grand jury rather than filed immediately. This procedural choice allows prosecutors to build a case with the surveillance video, witness statements, and medical records from the injured deputies before formally indicting Reaggle.
In the meantime, Reaggle will be transported to state prison to begin serving his one-year sentence from the original case. Any new charges from the courthouse incident will be handled concurrently, meaning he could face additional prison time on top of the year he is already serving.
The significance of the new charges should not be understated. Felony assault on a police officer and felony escape carry substantial penalties in Ohio. If convicted, Reaggle’s total time in prison could increase significantly beyond the single year that prompted his violent outburst.
Why the Video Went Viral and What Witnesses Said
The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office released the surveillance footage to multiple news outlets on September 15, and the video quickly spread across social media. By September 16, clips had been shared widely on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube, with millions of combined views.
The viral spread was driven by several factors. The footage is clear and well-angled, showing the handcuff break, the throat punch, the full-speed collision with the second deputy, and the stairwell chase from multiple camera positions. The attack is sudden and shocking, lasting only seconds but resulting in two officers with broken bones.
Witness Reactions
| Witness | Statement |
|---|---|
| Leland Monte (courthouse witness) | “Just a cr@zy situation. I was really concerned for the officer. All I was thinking about was if the sheriff was okay.” |
| Larry Stacey II (attorney, 35 years of practice) | “I’ve never seen anything like that in 35 years of practicing law.” |
| Zach Bitango (social media user who posted the viral clip) | Described the incident as: “First, he BROKE HIS HANDCUFFS OFF. Then the suspect turned, THROAT-PUNCHED the sheriff’s deputy escorting him, turned around, and absolutely TRUCKED the second sheriff.” |
The video has also prompted discussions about courthouse security protocols, the use of standard handcuffs versus other restraint systems, and the risks faced by bailiffs and deputies during routine prisoner transports within courthouses.
Courthouse Security: Why This Type of Incident Remains a Risk
The Reaggle escape attempt highlights a persistent vulnerability in the American courthouse system. The transition from sentencing to custody is one of the most dangerous moments in criminal proceedings. A defendant who has been free on bond and is suddenly facing immediate incarceration may experience a surge of panic, desperation, or anger that can result in violence.
Standard handcuffs, while effective in most circumstances, can occasionally be defeated by individuals with unusually small wrists, physical strength, or knowledge of the mechanisms. The fact that Reaggle was able to break free from his handcuffs while being escorted raises questions about whether additional restraint measures (leg shackles, waist chains, or double-locking handcuffs) should have been applied given the severity of his original charges and the length of the sentence he was receiving.
This is not to assign blame to the deputies, who were following routine protocols. It is to note that courthouse security remains an area where the gap between standard procedure and worst-case scenarios can result in serious injury, as it did here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happened at the Columbiana County Courthouse?
On Monday, September 15, 2026, Timothy J. Reaggle, 20, broke free from his handcuffs after being sentenced to one year in prison. He punched security bailiff Keith Thorn in the throat, slammed into security bailiff Steve Boyd at full speed, and attempted to flee the building. He was stopped near the front doors after Deputy Nick Rusyn deployed a Taser.
Who is Timothy Reaggle?
Timothy J. Reaggle is a 20-year-old from Wellsville, Ohio. He had been sentenced to one year in state prison after pleading guilty in July 2026 to aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and failure to comply with a police order in connection with a February 2025 incident.
Were any deputies injured?
Yes. Security bailiffs Keith Thorn and Steve Boyd both suffered broken bones. Thorn sustained head and facial injuries and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Both were treated and released.
Did Reaggle escape the courthouse?
No. Reaggle was stopped near the courthouse’s front doors. He never made it outside the building. Deputy Nick Rusyn used a Taser to subdue him, and multiple officers wrestled him to the ground near the security station.
What new charges does Reaggle face?
He is expected to face two counts of felony assault on a police officer, felony escape, and resisting arrest. The case will be presented to the Columbiana County grand jury.
Is there video of the incident?
Yes. The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office released multiple angles of surveillance footage showing the handcuff break, the attacks on both deputies, and the pursuit through the courthouse. The video has gone viral on social media.
What was Reaggle’s original sentence?
He was sentenced to one year in state prison for a February 2025 case involving aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and related charges. He had pleaded guilty to lesser offenses in July 2026.
Where is Reaggle now?
Reaggle is being held at the Columbiana County Jail. He will be transported to state prison to begin his one-year sentence. Additional charges from the courthouse escape attempt will proceed through a grand jury.
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Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
