Autopsy: Girl was stabbed (Story)

Autopsy: Girl was stabbed

Lima teenager accused in sister’s slaying

By BOB BLAKE

LIMA — Investigators probing the stabbing death of a 4-year-old girl said they have an understanding of what happened in and around a Burch Avenue home early Tuesday. Determining why it happened has proven more challenging, a police official said.

On Wednesday, an autopsy confirmed that Linda Jackson, 4, died from multiple stab wounds following a domestic disturbance at her 1913 Burch Ave. home, according to Lt. Jim Baker, of the Lima Police Department. The autopsy was performed at the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

“We’re still doing background work,” Baker said. “Obviously we’re still trying to figure out the why. We kind of as we’re going through it have a good idea of the how, going to the scene and all that stuff, really trying to figure out the why at this point.”

Baker said the alleged assailant, Kenyada Vorise-Jackson, 19, the girl’s sister, remains hospitalized at St. Rita’s Medical Center. On Thursday morning, a nursing supervisor at the hospital said she was in serious condition. She was in critical condition Tuesday.

The girls’ mother, Latamangela Jackson, 44, remains in serious condition, also at St. Rita’s, as of this morning.

On Wednesday, Baker clarified the kinship among those involved in the incident saying the younger females were sisters and have the same parents. On Tuesday, police officials erroneously described the relationship between the assailant and the victims as a stepdaughter to a stepmother and half-sister.

Baker said officials are still trying to figure out why Vorise-Jackson allegedly stabbed her mother and sister just days before her graduation from Elida High School. Elida’s graduation ceremony is Sunday.

At least part of the confrontation took place in the front yard of the house. A neighbor, who declined to be identified, said at one point the mother managed to free herself and ran to neighboring houses screaming for help, blood staining one neighbor’s front door.

Baker said Vorise-Jackson is under police custody at the hospital on suspicion of murder. Formal charges are pending her release, he said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Published in The Lima News: June 2, 2011

Officials warn: Don’t use synthetic drugs (Story)

Officials warn: Don’t use synthetic drugs

By BOB BLAKE

LIMA — It comes packaged in colorful packages with names like Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Spice and Zohai. The packages can be found for sale over-the-counter in tobacco shops, convenience stores and over the Internet.

Despite the accessibility, these synthetic drugs, those attempting to mimic the effects of illegal narcotics, are dangerous and are coming under increasing scrutiny. It is a problem officials at both the local and federal levels are attempting to address.

K2, as it’s known, is a mixture of herbs and spices that is typically sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, according to a fact sheet from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

“It’s a problem. We would advise that anyone, rather it be teenagers or adults, not use the stuff,” said Sgt. Brian Leary, of the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force. “We’re still not sure the long-term effects, but short-term it has hallucinogenic properties. There’s reports with that and bath salts of high heart rates, even in some cases across the nation we’ve had deaths. There’s just a whole slew of problems.”

According to DEA information, with an increasing number of reports from poison control centers, hospitals and law enforcement agencies of problems associated with the “fake weed,” at least 16 states have taken steps to control the chemicals. In March, the DEA exercised its emergency scheduling authority to label five chemicals used in K2 production as schedule I drugs, making it illegal to sell or possess the chemicals or the products that contain them.

Two weeks ago, local law enforcement officers went to various businesses around Allen County, pulling products that contained the chemicals from the shelves and advising employees that the products are illegal, Leary said. That’s not the end of the problem, however, he said.

“The tobacco shops have since or even prior to us doing that have different forms of this K2 that does not contain the substances. They’re already moving forth trying to keep things legal and comply with the law but it’s just the same thing it’s just a small difference,” Leary said. “They’re changing the makeup of it to where it complies with the law until the law catches up with that. Then they change it again and that’s how they’re getting by that now.”

Lt. Jim Baker, of the Lima Police Department, said there could be significant ramifications for business owners who continue selling the synthetic drugs.

“As we start seeing deaths from these things from the adverse effects it could open the businesses up to civil liability,” Baker said.

Published in The Lima News: June 1, 2011

Sister stabbing (Story & Video)

Check out the video: Lima News video by BOB BLAKE.

Sister stabbing

High schooler held in slaying of 4-year-old

By BOB BLAKE

LIMA — Just days from her high school graduation, a 19-year-old woman stabbed her 4-year-old sister to death and sent her mother to the hospital with multiple stab wounds, police officials said.

The double stabbing happened around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday at 1913 Burch Ave. Detective Don Marik, of the Lima Police Department, said officers were called to the single-family home on report of a domestic disturbance and arriving officers found Linda Jackson, 4, dead at the scene. She had been stabbed multiple times, Marik said.

“Officers had to force their way into the house because of the problems that were happening here,” Marik said.

Lt. Jim Baker, of the Lima Police Department, said the girl’s mother, Latamangela Jackson, 44, suffered multiple stab wounds. Baker said at one point Jackson and her accused assailant, Kenyada Vorise-Jackson, 19, were struggling in the front yard of the house.

Vorise-Jackson is on the list of graduating seniors from Elida High School approved May 17 by the school board. Elida’s graduation is set for Sunday. Superintendent Don Diglia confirmed Vorise-Jackson was a graduating senior at the school.

“There are no changes planned for the graduation ceremony, despite the tragic events that took place this morning,” Diglia said. “Elida High School seniors completed their final exams on May 27 and are not in classes this week. But, as always, guidance counselors are on hand for any student in need of assistance or support.”

A neighbor, who declined to be identified, said at one point the mother managed to free herself and ran to neighboring houses screaming for help, blood staining one neighbor’s front door.

Jackson was listed in serious condition at St. Rita’s Medical Center Tuesday evening, according to Linda Chartrand, a spokeswoman for the medical center.

Neither Baker nor Marik would discuss what may have triggered Tuesday’s violent confrontation. Vorise-Jackson was listed in critical condition Tuesday, also at St. Rita’s, according to Chartrand.

Baker said investigators were not commenting on the nature or extent of Vorise-Jackson’s injuries.

Marik said Linda Jackson’s body will be sent to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy.

Published in The Lima News: June 1, 2011

Report: ‘Suicide by cop’ (Story & Video)

Check out the video: Video edited by BOB BLAKE.

 

Report: ‘Suicide by cop’

Former officer felt he was burden to family

By BOB BLAKE

ST. MARYS — Distraught by feelings he was a burden to his family and still harboring resentment from a failed career on the local police force, Dennis R. Slone drove to St. Marys on Jan. 28 intent on ending his life. His goal, according to investigators, was suicide by cop.

When Slone, 42, of Waynesfield, phoned friends and acquaintances earlier that evening saying he wanted to die, some hoped they would be able to talk him down as had been the case in previous suicide threats in years past. Others who talked to him said he sounded like he “was on a mission.”

Slone’s death at the Marathon station at the corner of Main and South streets in St. Marys was the culmination of years of suffering from brain tumors, severe, debilitating headaches and seizures. Slone’s years-long battle with the ailments was also taking a physical toll on his wife, Jennifer, and interfering with his ability to help raise their daughter, according to investigators.

The revelations are part of the voluminous investigative report compiled by agents of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. The report was obtained by The Lima News after a public records request.

The investigation was requested by Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon after one of his deputies, Sgt. Brian Little, shot Slone three times after a slow-speed pursuit through St. Marys after Slone exited his vehicle and pointed a gun at officers. The investigation ultimately cleared Little of any wrongdoing and he returned to active duty earlier this month.

Jennifer Slone told Agent David Hammond, of the Ohio BCI&I, that her husband often complained about being a burden to her. She also said he wasn’t able to drive and was struggling to help their grade-school-aged daughter with her homework.

In a report, Hammond also said on the day of the incident Slone told his ex-mother-in-law, Lavera “Flo” Edginton, “I’m going to take a big dip of snuff and blow my brains out.”

Edginton told Hammond she thought Slone was joking and said she responded, “Don’t have time to go to a funeral right now.”

He angrily told her, “Then don’t come,” according to Hammond’s report.

Lt. Barry Truesdale, of the Wapakoneta Police Department, told Agent Sam Justice that on the night of the shooting he received a call from a dispatcher who said Slone had called the department, where he formerly worked as an auxiliary police officer, and said he was going to St. Marys to “find a cop to shoot him.” In a phone call with Truesdale, Slone reportedly said he had a loaded gun in the car. In another call with Truesdale, Slone said he was “screwed up in the head” and it had caused him and his wife trouble and he was tired of it.

Truesdale told Justice he knew when he spoke with Slone that he was on a mission and no one was going to stop him from killing himself.

According to Sheriff’s Office reports, three times between 2003 and 2005, deputies were called on report Slone was threatening to kill himself. Deputy Thomas Keckler talked a gun out of Slone’s possession during one such call in 2004. Over the phone, Keckler tried to talk Slone out of his plan as Slone was driving to St. Marys. Slone reportedly said he couldn’t be talked out of it this time.

In cruiser camera footage released as part of the investigative report, various law enforcement cruisers can be seen catching up to Slone’s vehicle as it approached St. Marys along U.S. Route 33. After officers turn on their lights and sirens as the procession of vehicles slowly works its way down state Route 66 into town, officers can be heard saying Slone is holding the loaded gun to his head as he drives.

In statements to BCI&I agents, various St. Marys Police Department officers said at one point in the pursuit, Slone turned toward the Police Department prompting a lockdown at the facility. Slone was fired from the department in 1997 for poor performance after failing to progress beyond his initial probationary status despite a year and a half at the agency.

Despite poor marks for job performance, personnel records show fellow officers at the St. Marys Police Department described him as a likeable individual, a good person and easy to get along with.

The camera footage also shows a gun clearly visible in Slone’s left hand as he exits his vehicle immediately upon pulling into the Marathon lot. Little, who was in the first cruiser behind Slone, immediately exited his vehicle, taking cover behind the open door and repeatedly yelled for Slone to, “Put the gun down!” When Slone continued turning toward officers with the gun in hand, Little opened fire. One of the shots pierced Slone’s heart, according to the reports.

According to the report, Little told Agent Justice he was aware of the threats Slone had made earlier in the day to shoot a cop and he “was not going to let Slone shoot first.”

Slone was pronounced dead at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys about half an hour after the shooting.

Published in The Lima News: May 27, 2011

Convicted Mastermind Gets 31 Years (Video)

Check out the video: Lima News video by BOB BLAKE.

Hammer-wielding Lima man nailed by police after robbery attempt (Story)

Hammer-wielding Lima man nailed by police after robbery attempt

By BOB BLAKE

LIMA — Wielding a hammer, a man attempted to rob an area convenience store early Wednesday, according to a police report. He fled without taking any cash or merchandise and was caught a short time later.

It all happened shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday at Meat City, 801 E. Kibby St.

“The guy came through and he had a hammer. The clerk asked if he could help him,” Lt. Jim Baker, of the Lima Police Department, said. “He said, ‘Yeah, give me everything you’ve got.’ The clerk thought he was just joking.”

Baker said the man, Rashad D. Davis, 19, of Lima, continued to threaten the clerk with the hammer, including threatening to smash a store window. Baker said Davis fled without taking anything and was caught a short time later.

Davis is being held on suspicion of attempted robbery, Baker said.

No one was injured during the incident.

Published in The Lima News: May 19, 2011

Van Wert man shot and killed late Thursday (Web Update)

Van Wert man shot and killed late Thursday

By BOB BLAKE

VAN WERT — A Van Wert man was shot multiple times and killed Thursday night during a confrontation at Fox Road Apartments.

According to a statement from the Van Wert Police Department, officers were called to apartments at 150 Fox Road shortly before 9 p.m. on report that a man and been shot and that the suspect was still in the apartment.

When officers arrived, they found Christopher D. McMillen, 24, had multiple gunshot wounds. The suspect, Chad D. Phillips, 31, of Middle Point, fled before officers arrived, police said.

McMillen was taken to Van Wert County Hospital and then taken by medical helicopter to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Phillips was later located by Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office deputies at a house near Middle Point. Phillips was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Phillips was initially charged with attempted murder before officers learned McMillen had died.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was called to assist Van Wert Police Department personnel at the shooting scene.

Published online at www.limaohio.com on May 13, 2011 at 8:09 a.m.

Auglaize County deputy cleared in fatal shooting (Story)

Auglaize County deputy cleared in fatal shooting

By BOB BLAKE

WAPAKONETA — The Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office deputy who has been on paid administrative leave since a January shooting left a Waynesfield man dead has been cleared of any wrongdoing and has returned to work, the sheriff said Thursday.

The shooting followed a Jan. 28 slow-speed pursuit through St. Marys after which Dennis R. Slone, 42, pulled a gun and pointed it at officers, Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon said. Two separate investigations exonerated Sgt. Brian Little of any wrongdoing, Solomon said.

The state investigation was conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office handled the internal investigation.

Eve Mueller, press secretary for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office, said there was no immediate timetable for the release of additional findings from the Ohio BCI&I investigation. The state agency was called the night of the shooting to handle the investigation at the request of Solomon.

Little had been in the first cruiser behind Slone during the pursuit, which ended at the Marathon station near the intersection of Main and South streets in St. Marys. Slone, a former St. Marys police officer, confronted officers with a gun and Little fired three shots. Those were the only shots fired during the incident, Solomon said.

“I am very pleased that Sgt. Little has been cleared of any wrongdoing and will be returning to active duty,” Solomon said. “It is always a terrible tragedy for the loved ones of the deceased and also for the deputy and officers and their family and friends when the line of duty places a law enforcement officer in harm’s way and results in the taking of a human life.”

Solomon said he appreciated the independent investigation by the outside agencies.

“We are saddened by Mr. Slone’s death and can now work to move on,” Solomon said. “The independent investigation hopefully brings some closure for everyone involved.”

Little, a 1988 graduate of Memorial High School in St. Marys, came to the Sheriff’s Office in October 2003 after more than 10 years with the Cincinnati Police Department. Little worked in the evidence and property management section, on road patrol and was a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics team during his tenure in Cincinnati, according to documents in his personnel file.

Solomon said Little returned to work Wednesday after both investigations concluded.

Published in The Lima News: May 13, 2011

Judge orders competency review in man’s intimidation case (Story & Video)

Check out the video: Lima News video by BOB BLAKE.

Judge orders competency review in man’s intimidation case

By BOB BLAKE

LIMA — Last month, a Lima man successfully argued he should be allowed to defend himself in ongoing legal proceedings. On Monday, a judge ordered the man to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine if he’s competent to represent himself and competent to stand trial.

Nicholas J. Kinstle, 48, faces 23 counts of intimidation, each a third-degree felony. Prosecutors said Kinstle sent paperwork to officials and witnesses involved in his previous arson and foreclosure cases demanding large sums of money, some more than $1 billion. Each count carries the possibility of up to five years in prison.

In court Monday, Kinstle once again restated his belief that he’s not been properly charged with any crime because the legal documents, including the indictment and arrest warrant, spell his name in all capital letters. Kinstle said he’s not the defendant in the case because he’s never spelled his name with all capital letters.

“When letters are spelled in all capital letters and are written those written letters address and refer to a dead vessel, or a dead person, or a dead body without a soul,” Kinstle said. “They also represent a ship when all the letters of a name are capitalized. They represent the name on a Social Security number, the drivers license, those are all legal fictions, or legal entities. … They’re not me. They’re corporate entities of the state of Ohio.”

Visiting Judge Randall Basinger, of Putnam County, ordered Kinstle to undergo a mental health evaluation on May 18. A competency hearing will then be held in Allen County Common Pleas Court to determine if Kinstle will stand trial, and, if so, whether he will be allowed to represent himself.

Basinger’s decision to order the evaluation was based on the filings Kinstle has made in the case while acting as his own attorney with shadow counsel provided by William Mooney.

“The filings include such statements as the court should consider whether to void the Constitution and other issues that have been raised in rambling fashion by the defendant,” Basinger said. “They raise in the court’s mind serious questions about whether the defendant can knowingly and intelligently proceed without counsel.”

Basinger did not rule on a request by Kinstle to fire Mooney and replace him with public defender Ken Rexford. Basinger said he would take the request under advisement.

Published in The Lima News: May 10, 2011

For the sake of Jake (Story & Video)

Vicky Miller and her husband awoke Saturday morning to find Jake, a horse they gave away in September to relatives, severely injured and tied to a small tree in the front yard. (Lima News video by BOB BLAKE.)

Check out the video: Lima News video by BOB BLAKE.

For the sake of Jake

Horse’s return not a happy homecoming

By BOB BLAKE

HARROD — Vicky Miller had quite the pre-Easter surprise when she awoke Saturday morning. A horse Miller and her husband, Don, had given away last fall had returned to their home east of Harrod. It wasn’t a joyous reunion, however.

The horse, Jake, was tied to a small tree in the couple’s front yard. It quickly became apparent something was very wrong with Jake.

“When my husband went out to get him, he went to walk him away and he noticed that his hindquarter was really hurt,” Miller said. “We got to looking at him and I noticed that one of his ribs is sticking out.”

The couple had Jake at their home for years. They gave the horse away in September to relatives Donald and Jeanne Martin on Clum Road, where they thought Jake would be well cared for, she said.

“They called a couple days ago and wanted to know if I wanted him back,” Miller said. “They said he was a problem, which you can see he isn’t. They brought him back evidently in the middle of the night and tied him to a tree in my front yard.”

Jake is in obvious pain and puts little pressure on his left rear leg as he stands gingerly in the Millers’ yard. Often, the horse, who is about 9 years old, keeps his leg just off the ground. There is a noticeable limp in the horse’s gait any time he moves to find greener grass to nibble.

Unable to afford calling a veterinarian to the house and paying upward of $300 to have the horse examined, Miller called the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. Miller said a deputy spent hours at the property calling around trying to find someone to come take a look at the horse to no avail.

As of Sunday afternoon, a basic report had been filed with the Sheriff’s Office but no additional details were immediately available.

“I can’t believe that people would do this to animals at this level of cruelty to such a beautiful animal. He’s a very good horse,” Miller said. “From the time we gave him to them in September until now the difference in the property they live in is tremendous. If you look there now you can obviously see there’s animal hoarding going on. They have literally turned it into a compound. I definitely think something needs to be done to them over this.”

Attempts to reach the Martins for comment were unsuccessful Sunday afternoon. A man who answered the door at the Martin home said the couple were not home and could not be reached by telephone. A phone call to a number previously associated with the couple went unanswered with a message saying the number had been disconnected.

Miller said the Martins had complained about Jake and the other horses getting loose. The entire property is surrounded by a fence constructed entirely of shipping pallets. Numerous vehicles and animals — chickens, dogs, pigs and horses — reside at and in the home, according to Miller and neighbors to the Martins.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said the horses escaped twice in the same day on April 1. The neighbor said complaints have been filed, but nothing has ever been done to remedy the situation.

Miller said she’s just looking to get help for her horse.

“I’m going to keep him and hopefully I can get a vet that will come out and take payments maybe or look at him,” Miller said. “The money situation isn’t right. I hope they get prosecuted for what they’ve done.”

Published in The Lima News: April 25, 2011