According to court records, 29-year-old Ahmed M. Ali is facing misdemeanor charges of inducing panic and violating a health order.

A West Side man is believed to be the first person in Franklin County to be charged with violating a health order under Gov. Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home order.

According to court records, Ahmed M. Ali, 29, is facing misdemeanor charges of inducing panic and violating a health order.

Police were first called around 4:25 p.m. Tuesday to the area of South Terrace Avenue and Olive Street on a ShotSpotter gunshot detection alert.

Officers were told there were three suspects who walked into a corner store and then back toward South Terrace Avenue.

When officers encountered the three suspects, according to court records, a loaded pistol was found in the right side of Ali’s waistband.

"Mr. Ali then began resisting arrest and advised he had COVID-19," according to court records. "Mr. Ali was unable to provide an essential reason to be outside during a stay-at-home order."

Court records indicate Ali did not have coronavirus, but caused officers to use personal protective equipment, which is in limited supply.

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City Attorney Zach Klein said his office will prosecute those who fake symptoms of coronavirus to avoid arrest or citation.

In Athens, a 23-year-old Ohio University student living off-campus was also charged with a health order violation after Athens police responded to a report of a nuisance party on Tuesday on East State Street.

Andrew Ohlinger, of Amherst, has been charged in Athens Municipal Court with a second-degree misdemeanor. Additional details about the incident leading to the citation have not been made available.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner