Incident Leads to Arrest of Staff Member and Resignation of Political Adviser
Bernie Moreno has reached out to the Ashville police to express his apologies regarding the conduct of two staff members from his Senate campaign after a traffic stop escalated, resulting in one staff member’s arrest and another facing threats of arrest.
According to law enforcement, the traffic stop turned contentious, culminating in the arrest of Abby Wright, a finance assistant for the campaign. Colton Henson, a contracted political adviser and member of the Ashville village council, was also present in the vehicle and allegedly attempted to interfere with the officers’ actions.
Police reports indicate that the vehicle was stopped for failing to adequately stop at a stop sign, speeding, and coming to a halt on the wrong side of the road. Henson exited the vehicle, claimed Wright was his girlfriend, and attempted to prevent the officer from speaking with her.
Sobriety Tests and Officer Interference
Officers noted they had reasonable suspicion that Wright had been drinking and obtained her consent for several sobriety tests, during which they observed 12 indicators suggesting she was not sober. Additionally, she struggled to locate her insurance, which was later found to be expired.
Throughout the encounter, Henson reportedly continued to interfere, prompting the officer to call for backup. Even after the arrival of a second officer, Henson persisted in his disruptive behavior. Police warned him that he could face arrest for obstruction of justice if he did not cease. After Wright’s arrest, he allegedly yelled at officers, telling them to “f— off.”
Ashville, a village with a population of approximately 4,600 in northern Pickaway County, lies south of Columbus.
Campaign Response and Consequences
Chris Grant, a consultant for the Moreno campaign, stated that Henson’s disrespectful behavior towards law enforcement led to his resignation on Friday. “Respect for law enforcement is a core value of our campaign, and because Mr. Henson’s behavior did not meet that standard, he has resigned his position. While we appreciate his service, accountability requires tough decisions,” Grant said. He also mentioned that Bernie Moreno personally contacted the involved law enforcement officers to apologize for the incident and reaffirm his respect for their service to the community.
Moreno, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is running against Senator Sherrod Brown for his seat in a highly competitive race that could significantly impact the balance of power in the Senate beginning in 2025.
Wright initially faced multiple charges, including operating a vehicle while impaired, driving without a valid license, expired tags, and failure to yield at a stop sign. While all charges except for operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI) were dismissed on September 9, she pleaded not guilty to the OVI charge on September 3. This charge was subsequently amended to reckless driving, to which Wright pleaded guilty on September 12 and paid a $561 fine.
Wright received a 30-day jail sentence, with 26 days suspended, and is currently on probation for one year.
Moving Forward
“Ms. Wright cooperated and was respectful to law enforcement while they executed their proper role and duties,” Grant added. “She has accepted responsibility, paid her fines, and has had her license and vehicle returned. We consider this matter closed.”
