GALLIPOLIS — Charges have been filed against four individuals who were held at gunpoint following the alleged theft of farm equipment from a residence located in Walnut Township on Sunday.

Travis Foster, 23, McArthur, and Jonathan A. Lucas, III, 28, Nelsonville, have both been charged with misdemeanor theft, while suspects, Tiffany B. Peoples, 24, Hamden, Ohio, and Mary S. Kiser, 20, Athens, have been charged with misdemeanor trespassing as a result of an incident.

Deputies with the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene on Rosa Road in Walnut Township at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday in reference to a possible shooting and break-in.

According to the police report, upon arrival, the responding officer found several people surrounding three adults that were being held at gunpoint.

The suspects had, reportedly, attempted to steal a farm disc from the victim.

After advising everyone to disperse and securing the scene, the deputy placed the suspects in his cruiser for safe keeping.

The officer was then advised by the victims and several witnesses that a fourth male suspect had fled the scene in a green, Ford Explorer towing a black trailer.

A family member of the victim advised that, prior to the arrival of the deputy, he arrived on scene and saw the suspects at the residence attempting to steal a piece of farm equipment, and, after obtaining a gun, he shot into the air.

While this was occurring, two other acquaintances of the victim arrived on scene and attempted to block the suspect vehicle with their own vehicle to prevent the suspects from fleeing.

One of the suspects, however, reportedly entered the Ford Explorer and fled the scene, nearly striking two of the individuals who had arrived at the victim’s residence to assist, according to statements.

A second family member told officers that he then chased the suspect vehicle to Miller Road where the suspect, later identified as Travis Foster, jumped out of the vehicle and fled into the woods.

Foster was later located by a sheriff’s office canine unit hiding in a nearby field.

All four suspects were later transported to the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect vehicle was towed from the scene and the farm disc was later located on Flagsprings Road where it was retrieved by family members. It had reportedly bounced off the trailer while the suspect was fleeing the scene.

According to the report, the vehicle also had damage to one of its front headlights and the left rear tire was also gone — possibly shot out. The suspects later told deputies that the vehicle had been shot at several times by an individual with a gun while Foster fled the scene.

After being interviewed, the suspects reportedly told deputies that they had traveled to the residence to pick up the plow and scrap it for money.

The two male suspects were later jailed and the two female suspects were released.

Following consultation with the Gallia County Prosecutor’s Office, the case was referred to the Gallipolis City Solicitor’s Office and misdemeanor charges were filed against the suspects.

Initial hearings in the cases against the suspects will be held at a later date in the Gallipolis Municipal Court.