Lebanon – Two West Virginia women are scheduled to appear in Lebanon Municipal Court this afternoon on felony charges after they were found trespassing and attempting to convey marijuana onto the grounds of the Lebanon Correctional Institution early this morning.
Troopers said Alisa Spaulding, 23, was charged with drug trafficking and conveying drugs onto the grounds of a correctional facility, both fifth-degree felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing, both fourth-degree misdemeanors. Rhonda Haynes, 33, was charged with conveying drugs onto the grounds of a correctional facility, a fifth-degree felony, and criminal trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Troopers stopped Spaulding and Haynes for trespassing on the Lebanon Correctional Institution property at 12:05 a.m. this morning. In the process of identifying the suspects, the trooper observed several baggies of suspected marijuana in a backpack. A search of the suspects also revealed Haynes was carrying a baggie of marijuana on her person. The trooper recovered a total of 19 baggies of marijuana, worth approximately $600.
Spaulding and Haynes were incarcerated at the Warren County Jail. If convicted, Spaulding could face up to two years and 90 days in prison and a $5,500 fine. Haynes could face up to one year and 30 days in prison and $2,750 fine.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased property.
Columbus
-- Tpr. Anh M. Nguyen of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Delaware Post has received
the national Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission for risking
his life during the rescue of a crash victim on June 28, 2000. Tpr. Nguyen received
the bronze Carnegie Medal, given to persons who risk their lives to an extraordinary
degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
The
incident occurred just before noon on June 28, 2000, as Tpr. Nguyen responded
to a report of an injury crash on Interstate 71 in Morrow County. Upon his arrival
at the scene, he found a burning van atop a Lexus. Nguyen radioed for fire control,
then retrieved his fire extinguisher and first aid kit. As he was assisting
the Lexus driver away from the fire, he heard the driver of the van moaning.
Despite the heavy smoke and fire, Nguyen climbed up the side of the vehicles
to the van where he found the driver trapped and semi-conscious. Fighting the
fire back with his extinguisher, Nguyen worked to free the man from the van
and help him to the ground where several bystanders moved him to safety. The
man was transported by helicopter to Ohio State University Hospital where he
was treated for second and third-degree burns and smoke inhalation. Tpr. Nguyen
also received the Patrol’s Superintendent’s Citation of Merit in 2000 for his
lifesaving actions.
"Tpr. Nguyen’s actions reflect true heroism and demonstrate the willingness our officers have to place themselves in danger to save the lives of others." Col. Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent said.
Tpr. Nguyen joined the Patrol in May 1995 as a member of the 127th Academy Class. Commissioned the following November, he served at Mansfield before transferring to Mt. Gilead in October 1997. He transferred to Delaware in June of this year.
He graduated from Brookhaven High School in Columbus in 1987 and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from The Ohio State University. He currently resides in Gahanna with his wife Kimberly and children: Justin, 4; Kristen, 1, and Michael, infant.
Painesville – The Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested a former employee of the Painesville Deputy Registrar's office for issuing fraudulent Ohio driver’s licenses to illegal aliens in Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties.
Troopers said Jamie G. Ornelas-Soto was arrested yesterday for charging illegal aliens between $100 and $500 for fraudulent Ohio driver’s licenses. Ornelas-Soto is scheduled for arraignment in the Painesville Municipal Court today on charges of tampering with government records, a third-degree felony, and forgery, a fifth-degree felony.
A tip received by Immigration Naturalization Services (INS) resulted in a joint investigation with the Patrol, INS, and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles investigators. The on-going investigation began on September 4 and has resulted in three arrests.
Guadalupe Navaez, 27, and Mauircio Ortiz, 27, both of Ashtabula, were arrested Wednesday and arraigned yesterday in the Painesville Municipal Court on charges of tampering with government records, a third-degree felony, and forgery, a fifth-degree felony.
The three are incarcerated at the Lake County Jail and preliminary hearings are scheduled for Monday in the Painesville Municipal Court. If convicted of all the charges, each could face up to six years in prison and $12,500 in fines.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased property.
Amherst – Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers charged Calvin C. Broadus, A.K.A. Snoop Doggy Dogg, 29, of Los Angeles, with possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor, during a traffic stop today.
Troopers said at 12:12 p.m. today, two commercial tour buses were stopped on westbound Interstate 90 (Ohio Turnpike) near milepost 138 for speeding violations. An odor of burnt marijuana was detected in one of the buses and a drug-detecting canine was called to the scene and alerted to the vehicle in which Broadus was a passenger. A probable cause search revealed six baggies of marijuana, weighing approximately 200 grams, worth approximately $1,000, in the cargo area of the bus.
Tracey L. Davis, 35, of Los Angeles, also a passenger in the bus, was charged with possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor. An additional passenger in the bus, Tosha Hayward, 30, of Los Angeles, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor.
All were summoned and released. No court date has been set in the Oberlin Municipal Court.
Columbus – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating suspicious packages received today in the mailrooms of the Riffe Center, Rhodes Tower, and Statehouse, in downtown Columbus that were addressed to U.S. Representatives from Ohio.
Troopers said the packages were postmarked from Sri Lanka, all had similar handwriting, and were described as being homemade.
The packages were addressed to U.S. Representatives David Hobson, Robert Ney, Mike Oxley, Tom Sawyer, and James Trafficant. None of these U.S. Representatives have offices in any of these buildings.
Assisting in the investigation is the Columbus Fire Department-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, and the FBI Terrorist Unit, Columbus Bureau.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased properties.
Columbus-- The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to use extra caution when approaching stopped school buses. This week, October 15-19, has been designated National School Bus Safety week.
"Please keep in mind that there are many special concerns to be considered when sharing the road with school buses. Children, motorists, and parents need to be made aware of the possible dangers both inside and around a school bus and how to avoid them. This will do a great deal to ensure the safety of children on school buses.," Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent said.
School buses are equipped with both amber and red warning lights to advise motorists of a stop. Amber flashing lights indicate caution; the school bus is preparing to stop. Red flashing lights mean stop; children are boarding or leaving the bus. Motorists approaching from either direction are required to stop at least 10 feet from the stopped school bus until the bus resumes motion. If a school bus is stopped on a roadway divided into four or more lanes, only traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop.
Parents should talk to their children, whether they ride the bus or drive to school, and explain school bus safety rules. It is very important that children be taught to wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver indicates it is clear before stepping onto the bus. Children should never walk behind a bus. In addition, they should stay at least five steps away from the side and front of the bus.
School bus drivers and parents can also help by checking children’s clothing and removing, shortening, or replacing drawstrings, backpack straps, or other items that can potentially become caught on the school bus.
The Highway Patrol inspects all Ohio school buses at least twice per year; once prior to the start of school and once during the year.
Dayton – A correction officer at the Dayton Correctional Institution is facing felony charges today that he forged documents identifying himself as a police officer. Troopers said Anthony R. Eggleston, 24, of Dayton, was charged with two counts of fifth-degree felony forgery.
Troopers said an investigation began on October 10 after Eggleston identified himself as an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper to an off-duty trooper. During the investigation, it was determined that Eggleston, who is also employed by Moonlight Security Inc. in Dayton, forged documents that identified him as a police officer. At 1:45 p.m. today, troopers served arrest warrants and Eggleston was taken into custody at the Dayton Correctional Institution.
Eggleston was incarcerated at the Montgomery County Jail, and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine on each fifth-degree felony count. The Patrol said the investigation is ongoing.
Springfield – A Springfield Township firefighter is scheduled to appear in the Springfield Municipal Court on Monday on a false alarm misdemeanor charge stemming from a bomb threat call he made on September 20. Troopers said Frank Mallon, 40, of North Lewisburg, was charged with false alarm, a first-degree misdemeanor.
On September 20, at 6:09 p.m., a cellular phone call was received at the Patrol’s Springfield post regarding a bomb that was alleged to go off within the hour in Springfield. During an investigation of the call, troopers were able to track the cellular call to Mallon. This morning at 9:20 a.m., troopers served an arrest warrant and Mallon was taken into custody at the Beatty Station of the Springfield Township Fire Department.
Mallon was processed at the Clark County Jail. If convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor, he could face up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Columbus – The Ohio State Highway Patrol unveiled a new Partners for Safety teen safe driving program today. The goal of the campaign is to proactively educate teen drivers and increase seat belt usage.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for ages 15 to 20. In 2000, drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 represented more than 14 percent of all fatal crashes in Ohio, although they account for less than seven percent of all Ohio licensed drivers.
Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent, believes the new interactive Partners for Safety teen driving program will make an impact on teen drivers and reduce teen fatalities. "Troopers will be visiting our local high schools to impress upon teens the importance of safe driving, buckling up, and to discourage impaired driving. Teen drivers are at a much higher risk of crashes and fatalities, but are often unaware of how vulnerable they are behind the wheel," Colonel Morckel said.
Impaired driving is a serious problem for teen drivers. Of all drivers ages 16 to 20 killed in traffic crashes in 2000, more than 15 percent were alcohol related. Troopers will use Fatal Vision Goggles during their presentation to allow teens to experience simulated impairment. The Fatal Vision Goggles simulate impaired vision at .08 BAC percent in the daytime and .14 BAC percent at night.
Several promotional items will be given to teens to encourage their participation in the Partners for Safety teen effort. The items include membership cards, license plate brackets, keychains, ice scrapers, registration and insurance card holders, and a Protect Yourself flyer on teen driving.