March 2001 Media Releases

March 31, 2001 -- Man arrested for impersonating state trooper
March 29, 2001 -- Woman arrested for conveying drugs into Warren Correctional Institution
March 21, 2001 -- Skaggs earns Superintendent's Citation of Merit
March 9, 2001 -- 136th Academy Class graduates with 76 new troopers
March 8, 2001 -- Canine alerts to drugs with street value of $224,000
March 2, 2001 -- BMV employee charged with bribery

Dayton – A Riverside man is scheduled to appear in the Montgomery County Court Monday on charges of representing himself as an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper. Troopers said Robert K. Winkle Jr., 21, of Riverside, was arrested Saturday morning and charged with two first-degree misdemeanor counts of personating an officer and two fourth-degree misdemeanor counts of impersonating a peace officer.

Winkle is suspected of contacting young women, including juveniles, over the Internet and in person. He allegedly represents himself as a state trooper, as well as a photographer and recruiter for a modeling agency.

Winkle’s home and two motor vehicles were searched at the time of the arrest. His computer has been seized as evidence. Further investigation of the case will be handled by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in conjunction with the Riverside Police Department.

Troopers said the arrest is a result of a multi-agency effort by several agencies in the Dayton area.

Winkle was incarcerated at the Montgomery County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to 6 months in prison and a $1000 fine on each first-degree misdemeanor counts and up to 30 days in prison and a $250 fine on each fourth-degree misdemeanor count. The Patrol said additional charges are possible and the investigation is ongoing.

Lebanon – A Dayton woman is scheduled to appear in the Lebanon Municipal Court today on felony charges of drug conveying and possession after she was found attempting to convey cocaine and marijuana into the Warren Correctional Institution yesterday. Troopers said Janella Peebles, 25, of Dayton will be arraigned on one count of fifth-degree felony drug possession, and one count of fifth-degree felony conveying drugs into a detention facility.

Troopers and Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigators developed information that Peebles planned to convey drugs into the Warren Correctional Institution. Peebles was stopped by investigators at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, at which time she turned over one balloon containing 3.0 grams of cocaine and seven balloons containing 13.3 grams of marijuana.

Peebles was incarcerated at the Warren County Jail. If convicted, she could face up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine on each count. The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased property.

March 21, 2001 -- Skaggs earns Superintendent's Citation of Merit

Warren – Tpr. Larry A. Skaggs of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Warren post was honored today with the Superintendent’s Citation of Merit at ceremonies held at the Division’s Warren district headquarters. Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent, presented the award to Tpr. Skaggs for placing his own life in danger to prevent a man from committing suicide on December 2, 2000.

On that date, the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a man with a gun on Hoffman North Road. The sheriff’s office requested aid from any nearby units because they did not have any officers in the area. Tpr. Skaggs responded to the scene and observed a Champion police officer exit his vehicle with his gun drawn. The officer waved for Tpr. Skaggs’ assistance as he approached a kneeling man with a gun who was struggling with two women. Tpr. Skaggs, who had a cadet with him in his vehicle, positioned his cruiser out of the line of fire and then moved to cover the Champion officer.

The armed man repeatedly threatened to shoot himself while his wife and daughter pleaded with him to put his gun down. Tpr. Skaggs initiated communication with the man and tried to reassure him. Meanwhile, other Champion officers arrived on the scene and began moving in closer. The suspect became briefly distracted, upon which time Champion Patrolman Robert E. Koehler rushed the man and grabbed his left arm. At the same instant, Tpr. Skaggs grabbed the man’s gun hand and the cylinder of the weapon to prevent it from going off. He then wrestled the gun away and handed it to another officer to end the incident. During the investigation, it was learned the gun was loaded with four .38 caliber rounds.

Col. Morckel praised Tpr. Skaggs for his quick thinking and bravery. "Tpr. Skaggs placed himself in imminent danger to save a life. His actions reflect the highest ideals of public service and the Ohio State Highway Patrol," Col. Morckel said. Tpr. Skaggs will now be placed into consideration for the Patrol’s highest award for valor, the O. W. Merrell Meritorious Service Award, named for the director of the Department of Highways at the time the Patrol was created in 1933.

Tpr. Skaggs joined the Patrol in May 1997 as a member of the 129th Academy Class, and earned his commission the following November. He has been assigned to Warren throughout his career. Originally from Warren, Tpr. Skaggs graduated from Champion High School in 1988. Prior to joining the Patrol, Tpr. Skaggs served in the U. S. Army and earned the Good Conduct Medal. He currently resides in Warren with his wife Sheri.

Columbus -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol welcomes 76 new troopers who were commissioned today and assigned to Highway Patrol posts across the state. The Patrol’s 136th Academy Class graduated today after 28 weeks of rigorous law enforcement training. Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Ohio Department Public Safety; Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent; and Major Darryl L. Anderson, commander of the Office of Training, all shared in addressing the graduates and presenting their commissions and certificates of training.

Trooper Roger A. Cooper of Galloway was selected class speaker and thanked the Academy staff, family, and friends for their support during the training period. Eleven of the graduates received special honors: Tpr. Shane M. Borton of Delta received honors for overall performance; Tpr. Brian J. Mercer of Mantua was honored for top performance in academics; Tpr. Larry R. Bowman of Bexley was honored for superior physical training achievement; Tpr. Jeremy S. Wickman of Cincinnati was honored for firearms performance; and Tprs. Benjamin R. Addy of Warsaw, Anthony T. Pearcy of Cincinnati, Darrin L. Webb and Stephen T. Crabtree of Lucasville, Leslie D. Brode of Akron, Robert L. Haislop of Wellston, and Michael B. Claxon of Bolivar shared honors for top driving performance.

Each of the newly-commissioned troopers will begin active duty with a 60-day field training period under the guidance of a veteran officer. The new troopers will report to their posts on Monday, March 12. Thirty-four of the Patrol’s 57 posts, as well as the Patrol’s Statehouse Security Unit, will receive at least one of the new troopers.

Sidney – A California man is scheduled to appear in the Shelby County Court today after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers recovered 75 pounds of marijuana and over one-half kilogram of cocaine on Interstate 75 northbound near milepost 97 on Wednesday. Troopers said Timothy Cahill, 49, was charged with possession of marijuana, a second-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, a first-degree felony.

Troopers said at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Cahill was stopped in his 1999 Chevrolet Blazer for a following too close violation. A drug-detecting canine was on scene and alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed five packaged bricks of marijuana weighing approximately 75 pounds, and 546 grams of cocaine. The total street value of the drugs is over $224,000.

Cahill was incarcerated at the Shelby County Jail. If convicted of the second-degree felony, he could face up to eight years in prison, and a maximum $15,000 fine. If convicted of the first-degree felony, he could face up to 10 years in prison, and up to a $20,000 fine.

Columbus – A Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) employee is scheduled to appear in the Franklin County Municipal Court today on charges of bribery after an investigation revealed he attempted to solicit money in return for reinstating an Ohio drivers license. Troopers said Reginald J. Spence, 34, of Columbus, was arrested last night and charged with one count of third-degree felony bribery.

Troopers said an investigation revealed Spence, a BMV phone center employee, received a call Wednesday, Feb. 28, from a female customer requesting information about the process for getting her drivers license reinstated. Spence offered to process the request in return for $100. Spence had arranged to meet with her at the intersection of Brice Road and Livingston Avenue in Columbus, to complete the transaction. Investigators arrested Spence last night, at approximately 7 p.m., at that location without incident.

Spence was incarcerated at the Franklin County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased property.

Media Releases
Newsroom
Patrol home