Hale Pleads Not Guilty in Standoff

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office says a man who was involved in a three-hour standoff with Zanesville Police appeared in court. 33-year-old Nicholas Hale who is facing multiple counts including kidnapping, felonious assault, and aggravated burglary appeared before Common Pleas Judge Mark Fleegle and pled not guilty. Police say in October Hale held two people hostage at a home on the 1200 block of Devin Street. He later released the two victims and after tear gas was shot into the home, he surrendered. Police also are connecting Hale to a drive-by shooting the night before the standoff. Judge Fleegle continued Hale’s bond at $1,000,000.