CRIME & SAFETY

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said tis the season for scammers, and they are going strong. The office stated that there are two scams that they are currently receiving calls about. One is the “you missed court and if you don’t pay you will get arrested” and the other...

A woman in Findlay was arrested after a search warrant was served at a residence in that city late Wednesday morning. The search of the residence yielded suspected methamphetamine and several items of drug paraphernalia. Other items indicative of drug trafficking and cash were also seized. As a result, 40...

LIMA — A Lima man charged as a major drug offender after large quantities of narcotics were discovered during a task force search on his property earlier this year was sentenced Thursday to a minimum of 14 years in prison. Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Terri Kohlrieser sentenced...

LIMA — James Lee on Friday returned to Allen County for the first time since May of this year, when he and another inmate at the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution made a daring escape. Lee, 47, and fellow inmate Bradley Gillespie escaped from the Lima prison late in the...

LIMA — A Lima man charged earlier this week in connection with a stabbing in downtown Lima on Thursday entered a written plea of not guilty to a felony assault charge in an unrelated case. Aaron Smith, 38, was indicted by an Allen County grand jury in November on...

OTTAWA — A recent Putnam County grand jury has returned indictments against a number of persons. Among those indicted were: • Jason Burleson, 41, Ottawa, for two counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony. The charges allege that on Oct. 2 he caused, or attempted to cause, serious physical harm to two persons during an incident in Kalida. • Christopher Landwehr, 51, Cloverdale, for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony; domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.

LIMA — A young Lima man who fired a gun into what proved to be an apartment dwelling totally unrelated to the intended target was sentenced Friday to a minimum of six years in prison. Camron Chandler was indicted by an Allen County grand jury in July on charges...

NAPOLEON — Two persons implicated in a robbery in Deshler last month are among those recently indicted by a Henry County grand jury. Heather Litteral, 46, Deshler; and Mark Junge, 55, Deshler, each are charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. They were arraigned Monday in Henry County Common Pleas Court and their cases were scheduled for pretrial hearings on Dec. 20. ...

LIMA — A Lima man was taken into custody Monday for stabbing an individual near the Greyhound bus station in Lima. Police say Aaron Smith, 38, of Lima, was involved in a verbal altercation with an unnamed individual in the 100 block of South Central Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. Monday. Officers from the Lima Police Department were dispatched to the nearby bus station at 218 E. High St. and located a 36-year-old person, whose name was not released, suffering from a stab wound to the upper abdomen.

Discover the story of an escaped Allen Correctional inmate, indicted on a felony charge of escape, who is returning to Allen County to face new charges. Learn about the dramatic chase, capture, and the potential additional eight years to the sentence.

OTTAWA — A Putnam County man who sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer this summer accepted a plea offer from prosecutors on Monday. Gregory Preston, 32, formerly of Cincinnati, was indicted in August by a Putnam County grand jury on two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the first degree. The indictment alleged that Preston on or about Aug. 4 sold meth to the undercover agent in an amount that exceeded 50 times the bulk amount.

• The Lima Police Department has noticed an increase in thefts of specific makes and models of cars in the city. • Since October, over 20 reports of stolen or attempted stolen vehicles have been made, mostly involving newer models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

• Crime Victim Services of Allen and Putnam Counties is seeking support on Giving Tuesday. • Their goal is to raise $4,698, which represents a dollar for each victim and survivor they served in 2022.

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Now that winter temperatures have arrived, some may be trying to stay warm in their homes with alternative heat sources. The Lima Fire Department is asking folks to be careful when they use any type of space heaters to heat their homes. The National Fire Protection Association says heating equipment is a major cause of home fires in the United States. Local fire officials say not just any type of space heater is safe for the home.

FINDLAY, Ohio — A Findlay-area family is struggling after a fire devastated their home Friday morning. Shadd Snyder, who lives in the house along County Road 248 in Washington Township with his four children, said one of his daughters alerted him to the fire when it began around 11 a.m. Thursday.

WASHINGTON — An Ohio man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

LIMA — A jury trial scheduled for Monday in Allen County Common Pleas Court proved unnecessary after prosecutors dismissed all charges against the defendant. Kalvin Lasenby, 52, of Lima, was indicted in August of 2021 for the possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a felony of the first degree. In June of this year he was indicted on one count of possession of heroin, a second-degree felony.

Gregory A. Harriger, 46, Ottawa, was remanded to the WORTH Center on charges of aggravated assault and vandalism. He was placed on five years community control and was given credit for 80 days served. He must obtain and maintain employment and successfully complete all counseling and treatment recommended.

CELINA — A Lima man was taken into custody Thursday in Mercer County, according to a release from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. According to the release, Mercer County Central Dispatch received a call from the OnStar system in a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. The caller was speaking about hearing gunshots and friends being killed. Deputies responded to the location of the truck at 12348 Dutton Road, Mendon and found Dwight L. Bonapart II, 41, of Lima sitting in the truck. As he exited, Bonapart made suggestions to the deputies that the homeowners were inside and possibly in danger.

LIMA — The Ohio State Highway Patrol has chosen the Trooper of the Year for 2023. Brandon Schreiber is 28 years old and has served at the Lima Post since 2017. According to a recent press release, Schreiber was a graduate of Wapakoneta High School. The trooper has also received other awards including the Traffic Safety Award, District Trooper of the Year Award, Criminal Patrol Award, Ace Award, Traffic Safety Award, Trained a Trooper Ribbon, Safe Driving Ribbon, and Physical Fitness Ribbon with Star.