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Local News

Friday, November 20, 2009

Two charged after robbery
FOSTORIA -- Two Fostoria men were arrested early Thursday after a pizza delivery woman was robbed at knifepoint late Wednesday night.

Fostoria police reported that the delivery woman, who was not identified, fought back and cut one of the attackers with his own knife before he ran off with her money bag and cell phone.

Rodney D. Hampton, 40, faces charges of aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence, and disrupting public service, while Jonathon L. Zickefoose, 40, has been charged with complicity to felony drug possession, according to a Fostoria Municipal Court clerk. Hampton was a star football and baseball player at Fostoria High School and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies after high school.

The two men reportedly lured the delivery driver to a pay phone in front of a South Countyline Street business, according to Police Chief John McGuire.

Police reported that one of the men, later identified by police as Hampton, approached the woman and grabbed both of her arms. According to McGuire, the man demanded her money bag and produced a utility knife when the woman said she did not have it.

Hampton, listed by police as 6-foot-2 and weighing 260 pounds, wrestled the woman to the ground, police reported, and during the struggle, the woman was able to grab the knife from his hands and cut him. Hampton allegedly took back the knife, ran to the delivery driver's car, took the money bag and cell phone and fled the scene on foot, McGuire reported.

Hampton and Zickefoose were arrested after police officers responded to a call at 12:14 a.m. from a Findlay Street resident who reported a suspicious red vehicle with two occupants was parked alongside the street with its lights turned off.

When an officer approached the vehicle, Hampton fled on foot, cutting through several yards in the neighborhood, police said. One officer remained with Zickefoose and later took him into custody, while another officer pursued Hampton, police reported. The officer chasing Hampton noticed a "large amount of blood throughout the neighborhood and yards," according to McGuire.

Police followed a trail of blood through neighboring yards to a property in the 400 block of West Crocker Street, where Hampton was found hiding beneath a tarp draped over a swing set and bleeding from the hand. Hampton was uncooperative with police and had to be ordered out by gunpoint, police reported.

Hampton was taken into custody and transported to Fostoria Community Hospital for treatment of the laceration on his hand. Drug paraphernalia with residue was found in Hampton's possession and was sent to the lab for testing, police reported.

During a search of the area, the money bag and cell phone taken in the robbery were found on a shelf in a garage at a nearby property, and the knife had been thrown on the garage's roof.

"It was a nice job by the officers, not only in tracking him down, but in finding the money bag and the victim's cell phone, and even the utility knife used in the robbery," said McGuire.

Hampton is being held in jail on a $350,000 bond with his next court hearing scheduled for Nov. 23. Zickefoose, is being held on a $25,000 bond and is due in court on Nov. 24, according to the court clerk.


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10 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
J. wrote:
drug addiction and crime go hand in hand
“ this is a horrible incident without a doubt and punishment should be handed out as deserved. The underlying issue with this and so many other crimes is DRUG ADDICTION! I personally believe drug abuse stems from deep rooted problems, abuse, mental illness etc. Of course the individual is responsible for all actions he/she commits but I wish America would wake up and start fighting the war on drugs in our own backyards! These people need help. In my opinion no human soul is a waste and I truly believe more needs to be done to address this issue. yes these are grown men responsible for their actions and they deserve whats coming to them but drug abuse is an illness and hopefully they are able to recieve treatment for it. ”
Monday, November 23, 2009 5:40:29 PM
Kathy wrote:
adam
“
I was once a pizza driver and no some places dont allow you to carry that much with you, so he probably struggled for nothing. ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:58:56 AM
Cathy Schulte wrote:
Robbery
“ You're right Scott>I should have I'm glad that she did not get hurt trying to defend herself (but secretly I'm glad one of the people got hurt and left a trail of blood)>but yeah,just give over the money-people need you at home. ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 2:42:56 AM
adam wrote:
pizza
“ you would be amazing sometimes the ammount they carry. Sometimes its a whole nights woth of working that they gota payback. ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 3:10:23 PM
Get Real wrote:
Why is this thug on the street anyway?
“ I believe if you review some history, this creep robbed a pizza driver in August of 2007 two years ago and was involved in a stabbing robbery at a diner in Fostoria several years ago. Why was this guy even on the streets? That girl could've been killed. I hope she sues the judge that let this mongrel out on the streets. Hopefully they put him away for a long time. People like that have no place in society. Hopefully the judge will pay attention this time. ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 1:35:27 PM
Scott wrote:
Robbery
“ While I agree with most of Cathy Schulte's comments, I don't agree with, "Good of her to fight back." How stupid would it be to lose your life over "change of $20-$50"? ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 1:28:20 PM
Cathy Schulte wrote:
Robbery
“ How dumb ! How much could money a pizza delivery person have? To risk prision for any amount is crazy,but to rob a person of change for what $20-$50? Pure Stupid.
Good for her to fight back ! ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 11:34:18 AM
public service wrote:
two charged after robbery
“ Great job Fostoria PD! It's good to hear of having a great bunch of officers that continue to shape up the town. Keep up the good work and stay safe! ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 11:18:22 AM
Rob Martin wrote:
Two charged after robbery
“ After hearing nothing but bad lately about the FPD, it's nice to read something good and shows these officers did a great job protecting their citizens. Keep up the great work.
Rob Martin
Findlay ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 6:57:07 AM
Nelda Thomas wrote:
Robbery((s)
“ I wish news media would start calling the people who commit crimes by their true names: SLIME ..... to call them men or women is a slap in the face of for law-abiding citizens. ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 6:55:16 AM
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High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.