Smithville man arrested after 15-hour standoff

The Cleveland Division of the FBI, Canton Resident Agency’s Child Exploitation Task Force, announced Tuesday the arrest of Dennis E. Horn, age 69, of Smithville.

A federal arrest warrant for knowingly receiving and distributing visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and knowingly possessing or accessing with intent to view child pornography was signed Feb. 8, according to an FBI news release.

An investigation had been initiated by law enforcement on Jan. 11, upon discovery that an IP address utilized by Horn was making child exploitative material online for sharing. A search warrant was executed at Horn’s residence where alleged images of child pornography were seized, the news release states.

Law enforcement was unable to locate and arrest Horn last week . On Feb. 12, a press release seeking information on Horn’s possible location was disseminated.

Horn was observed by law enforcement in the Smithville area on Monday. Law enforcement was unsuccessful arresting Horn at that time. Horn successfully returned to his residence and refused law enforcement orders to come out of the residence. After a lengthy overnight standoff  – over 15 hours – Horn was taken into custody by members of the Cleveland FBI SWAT at about 5:25 a.m. Tuesday, without incident, according to the news release.

Horn had an initial appearance in federal court Tuesday. He remains in custody and will have a preliminary and detention hearing at 1 p.m. Monday.

The Cleveland Division of the FBI – Canton Resident Agency’s Child Exploitation Task Force thanks the assistance provided by the Smithville Township Police Department, the Wooster Police Department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Highway Patrol, and the Cleveland Division of the FBI’s SWAT members for their assistance in peacefully apprehending Horn, the news release states.