Fender Bender Sparks Public Clash Between Butler County Sheriff and West Chester Police

The dispute between Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and West Chester Township officials escalated after a Sept. 14 traffic citation for a 26-year-old driver that Jones said involved an undocumented immigrant. Township leaders say no one was injured in the minor collision and reject the sheriff's claim that a West Chester policy blocked officers from notifying federal immigration authorities.

What Happened

On Sept. 14 a West Chester officer cited a 26-year-old man following a minor fender bender. The sheriff's office later said the driver is from Mexico and has been in the United States for four years. According to Department of Homeland Security records cited by authorities, the man was being held at the Butler County Jail as of Sept. 25.

Positions From Both Sides

Sheriff Jones has publicly criticized West Chester police, saying officers "refuse to call ICE" and calling the township a "sanctuary township." He repeated assertions on social media and during a radio appearance that an officer knew the driver was undocumented.

"They refuse to call ICE. They don't want ICE involved because it sends the wrong message to the community," Jones told The Enquirer.

West Chester Township officials strongly dispute those claims. Township spokesperson Brianna Wooten and the trustees say there is no policy preventing cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that West Chester police routinely work with federal, state and local agencies when appropriate.

"You can't just take someone off the street and lock them up because they come from another country," Wooten said, noting that without an arrest warrant or ICE detainer there was no legal basis for arrest.

Accusations of Personal Attacks

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones stands next to a sign outside of the Butler County jail in February. The jail resumed its contract with ICE in March, initially earning $68 a day for each detainee it holds, an amount that increased to $105 a day in November.

Township leaders also accuse Jones of making disrespectful personal attacks against Police Chief Brian Rebholz, including on a Sept. 18 Facebook Live and a Sept. 24 radio appearance when Jones said he could not remember the chief's name. The trustees called for direct, professional communication between law enforcement agencies to resolve procedural disagreements.

Butler County Jail Capacity and ICE Detainees

Jones said his jail began preparing for an increased detainee population the day after the 2024 election and, he added, since March 2025 his facility has been able to hold individuals arrested on ICE matters. The Butler County Jail in Hamilton has capacity for up to 848 medium- and maximum-security inmates. A county resolution shows the sheriff's office receives payment for ICE-related transportation: $68 per day to house detainees and $36 per hour to transport them to the airport.

Concerns about conditions at the jail prompted calls for inspections earlier in the year; Jones denied the facility has been overcrowded.

What Comes Next

Township officials said they want disputes handled through direct, professional channels rather than public accusations. The case highlights tensions between local law enforcement priorities and federal immigration enforcement and is likely to continue drawing public attention while the detainee's custody status and any immigration proceedings play out.

Enquirer reporter Victoria Moorwood contributed to this story.