Marion – A Galion woman is facing felony charges today after she was arrested for conveying drugs into the North Central Correctional Institution on November 17. Troopers charged Crystal D. Wirick, 19, with conveying drugs into a correctional facility, a third-degree felony.
Troopers and Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigators were working an ongoing investigation after Wirick conveyed 77 grams of marijuana, and three-quarters of a gram of crack cocaine to an inmate during a visit on November 17. During the investigation it was determined that Wirick might be a flight risk and a warrant for her arrest was subsequently obtained. Troopers arrested Wirick at approximately 1:15 p.m. today at her place of employment, Life Touch, in Galion.
Wirick is currently incarcerated at the Marion County Jail, and is scheduled to be arraigned in the Marion Municipal Court on Wednesday. If convicted, she 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.
Bucyrus – Tpr. Jose Soto of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Bucyrus Post received the Superintendent’s Citation of Merit at ceremonies held today at the Division’s Bucyrus district headquarters. Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent, presented the award to Tpr. Soto for placing his own life in danger to save a man from a burning building on September 5.
Early that morning, Tpr. Soto was returning home after his Patrol shift when he noticed smoke rising from an apartment complex on Cooperfoster Park Road in Lorain. Residents exiting the burning building told Tpr. Soto, the first to arrive at the scene, that most residents were still sleeping. Tpr. Soto immediately attempted to enter the building, but thick smoke blocked him from entering. He then circled the building, hitting windows with his baton to wake residents.
A couple exiting the building told Tpr. Soto their neighbor was still in his apartment. Tpr. Soto threw rocks at the man’s window to wake him. The resident appeared at the window and told Tpr. Soto that he was trapped in the apartment. The man crawled out of his window and on to a small ledge. Tpr. Soto climbed to the roof on a fire escape. From the roof, Tpr. Soto pulled the man from the ledge and led him to safety.
Col. Morckel praised Tpr. Soto for his lifesaving efforts under dangerous circumstances. "Tpr. Soto 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. Soto will 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. Soto joined the Patrol in September 2000 as a member of the 136th Academy Class, and earned his commission the following March. He has been assigned to Bucyrus Post throughout his career. Originally from Lorain, Tpr. Soto graduated from Southview High School in 1994. He currently resides in Lorain.
Columbus – The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported today that Ohio experienced its safest Thanksgiving weekend in the past decade, with eight fatalities in seven crashes on the state’s roadways. By comparison, 13 people were killed on Ohio roads over the 2000 Thanksgiving weekend. As part of the Thanksgiving weekend enforcement efforts, Patrol troopers made 504 DUI arrests, and assisted 7,629 motorists on Ohio roads. Also, in association with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), troopers distributed red ribbons to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving and to encourage the use of designated drivers.
The Patrol credited the motoring public with helping to create safer highways, particularly during what is traditionally a deadly holiday weekend. Although the weekend statistics are encouraging, six people killed were not wearing the safety belt available to them at the time of the crash.
"This Thanksgiving weekend we experienced relatively safe travel conditions on Ohio roads, and motorists deserve the credit for helping keep fatalities down. Unfortunately, some people are still not wearing the safety belt available to them at the time of the crash, and six of those people were killed over the weekend. Obviously we still need more people to buckle up," Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent said.
As a reminder, troopers encourage motorists to call toll-free 1-877-7-PATROL to receive highway help, and to report aggressive drivers or stranded motorists during the upcoming holiday season.
Chillicothe – Troopers arrested a Ross Correctional Institution correction officer today for assaulting an inmate earlier this month. Donald L. Williams Jr., 37, of Lucasville has been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony.
Williams was arrested this morning as a result of a Patrol investigation. The investigation was initiated after Troopers received a complaint from an inmate regarding a Nov. 7 assault on a victim that resulted in him losing four teeth.
Williams is being held at the Ross County Jail, and is scheduled to appear in the Ross Municipal Court tomorrow. If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased property.
Lt. Col. Michael W. Finamore, former commander of Finance/Logistic Services, was promoted to assistant superintendent of administration. He replaces Lt. Colonel Ernest Howard, who retired today after more than 30 years of service.
Major Robert L. Cassidy, formerly of the Office of Field Operations was promoted to serve as commander of the Office of Finance/Logistic Services.
Promotion ceremonies were held at 10:00 a.m. this morning at the Patrol Academy.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol toxicology report reveals David Dye, 33, of Westerville, had a 0.318 blood alcohol level (BAC) when he was involved in a Monday night crash that killed Tpr. Frank Vazquez, of the Patrol’s West Jefferson post. Driving with a BAC of 0.10 percent is a crime in Ohio.
The Patrol charged Dye with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, in Tpr. Vazquez’s death. Dye was arraigned in the Franklin County Municipal Court Wednesday and is being held in the Franklin County Jail without bail.
Tpr. Vazquez, 26, died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a Monday night crash on northbound Interstate 270 near milepost 7 in Franklin County. He was outside of his cruiser issuing a traffic citation when a northbound 1999 GMC Jimmy driven by Dye, struck Tpr. Vazquez’s cruiser from behind. Alcohol was a factor in the crash.
A funeral service for Tpr. Vazquez will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Marysville High School Auditorium, 800 Amrine Mill Road, in Marysville. Following the funeral, there will be a procession to the Oakdale Cemetery on 1290 West Fifth St., in Marysville. A media briefing will be held at 9:30 a.m. prior to the funeral.
The Vazquez Children's Fund has been established at Bank One to support the three children of Tpr. Frank Vazquez. Donations can be made at any Bank One location in Ohio.
The Vazquez Children's Fund has been established at Bank One to support the three children of Tpr. Frank Vazquez. Donations can be made at any Bank One location in Ohio.
Tpr. Vazquez, 26, of the Patrol’s West Jefferson post died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a Monday night crash on northbound Interstate 270 near milepost 7 in Franklin County. He was outside of his cruiser issuing a traffic citation when a northbound 1999 GMC Jimmy driven by David Dye, 33, of Westerville, struck Tpr. Vazquez’s cruiser from behind. Alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The Patrol charged Dye with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, in Tpr. Vazquez’s death. Dye was arraigned in the Franklin County Municipal Court Wednesday and is being held without bail.
A funeral service for Tpr. Vazquez will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Marysville High School Auditorium, 800 Amrine Mill Road, in Marysville. Following the funeral, there will be a procession to the Oakdale Cemetery on 1290 West Fifth St., in Marysville.
A media briefing will be held at 9:30 a.m. prior to the funeral.
Tpr. Vazquez is the 35th Patrol officer to be killed in the line of duty since the Patrol’s inception in 1933.
| What: | The funeral of Tpr. Frank Vazquez of the Ohio State Highway Patrol West Jefferson post |
| When: | Saturday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Where: | Marysville High School Auditorium, 800 Amrine Mill Road,
in Marysville. Following the funeral, there will be a procession to the Oakdale Cemetery on 1290 West Fifth St., in Marysville. |
A media briefing will be held at 9:30 a.m. prior to the funeral.
Columbus – The Ohio State Highway Patrol has charged David Dye, 33, of Westerville, with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, in the fatal crash involving Tpr. Frank G. Vazquez, 26, of the Patrol’s West Jefferson post Monday night on northbound Interstate 270 near milepost 7 in Franklin County. Dye is scheduled to be arraigned in the Franklin County Municipal Court Wednesday.
At 9:06 p.m. Monday Tpr. Vazquez, a four-year veteran, stopped a northbound 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Cindy Marsh, 44, of Columbus, for a traffic violation. During the stop, a northbound 1999 GMC Jimmy driven by Dye struck Tpr. Vazquez’s cruiser from behind, sending it into the stopped vehicle. Tpr. Vazquez was outside his cruiser when he was struck. Preliminary results indicate alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Tpr. Vazquez succumbed to crash injuries at approximately 12:55 a.m. Tuesday. He is the 35th Patrol officer to be killed in the line of duty since the Division’s inception in 1933.
If convicted of the second-degree felony, Dye could face up to eight years in prison and a maximum $15,000 fine. The Patrol said the investigation is ongoing.
Columbus – Tpr. Frank G. Vazquez, 26, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s
West Jefferson post, succumbed to injuries at approximately 12:55 a.m. Tuesday
that he sustained in a Monday evening traffic crash on northbound Interstate 270
near milepost 7 in Franklin County. Tpr. Vazquez is the 35th Patrol
officer to be killed in the line of duty since the Division’s inception in
1933.
Tpr. Vazquez joined the Patrol in February 1997 as a member of the 128th Academy Class and received his commission on July 25, 1997. He served at the Defiance post prior to transferring to West Jefferson on December 3, 2000.
Originally from Defiance, Tpr. Vazquez graduated from Defiance High School in 1993, and later studied at Toledo University and The Ohio State University. Tpr. Vazquez lived in Marysville with his wife Kristina, and their three children: Christian, 5, Kyra, 3, and Noah, 1.
"Tpr. Vazquez distinguished himself as a leader in the Highway Patrol. His passing is a great loss to the Patrol family and our sympathies are with his family and friends," Col. Kenneth L. Morckel, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent said.
The Patrol said preliminary reports indicate at 9:06 p.m. Monday Tpr. Vazquez, a four-year veteran, stopped a northbound 2001 Mitsubishi being driven by Cindy Marsh, 44, of Columbus, for a traffic violation. During the stop, a northbound 1999 GMC being driven by David Dye, 33, of Powell, struck Tpr. Vazquez’s cruiser from behind, sending it into the stopped vehicle. Tpr. Vazquez was outside his cruiser when he was struck. Preliminary results indicate alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Marsh was transported to Grant Hospital, and Dye was transported to Mt. Carmel Hospital. Information on their conditions is not yet available. The investigation is ongoing.
Columbus -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a three-vehicle injury crash on northbound Interstate 270 near milepost 7 in Franklin County that occurred on Monday evening.
The Patrol said preliminary reports indicate at 9:06 p.m. Monday Tpr. Frank G. Vazquez from the West Jefferson Patrol post, a four-year veteran, stopped a northbound 2001 Mitsubishi being driven by Cindy Marsh, 44, of Columbus, for a traffic violation. During the stop, a northbound 1999 GMC being driven by David Dye, 33, of Westerville, struck Tpr. Vazquez’s cruiser from behind, sending it into the stopped vehicle. Tpr. Vazquez was outside his cruiser when he was struck.
Tpr. Vazquez was transported to The Ohio State University Hospital, Marsh was transported to Grant Hospital, and Dye was transported to Mt. Carmel Hospital. Information on their conditions is not yet available.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available. Inquiries should be directed to the Patrol’s Public Affairs Unit at 614-752-2792.