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Local News

Saturday, November 21, 2009

City police, sheriff form special unit
Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

The Findlay Police Department and Hancock County Sheriff's Office are trying out a combined effort to combat crime.

The two enforcement agencies have formed a unit, known as the Street Crimes Unit, to target certain areas in Findlay with high rates of robberies, drug trafficking, violence or burglaries, or other problems, according to Findlay Acting Police Chief Greg Horne.

The unit will include Interstate 75 in its patrols.

"That is what our idea is, to focus our attention on specific areas to repress crime," Horne said.

Enforcement began Tuesday and will run through Dec. 12 as part of a 30-day trial run, Horne said.

If the effort goes well, the unit may also target areas outside of Findlay, Horne said.

The collaboration is the first of its kind, according to officials at both departments.

"We've never done something like this before, so we are kind of getting our feet wet to see if it is something that will work in this community," said Lt. Scott Lowry with the Findlay Police Department, who is serving as coordinator of the unit.

After the trial period is up, law enforcement officials will review the success of the project and decide if it will continue. They also hope to earn grant funding, Horne said.

From the police department, two officers, working 40-hour weeks, will be dedicated solely to the Street Crimes Unit.

"Right now it doesn't cost us anything additional," Horne said. "We are actually able to pull the officers off each shift and it is not really hurting manpower."

From the sheriff's office, two K-9 units, along with Sgt. Mike Cortez, have been assigned to the unit.

Once the Tri-County Fostoria Zero Tolerance Task Force disbands on Nov. 30, Deputy Josh Peters will also rotate in, Cortez said.

The unit will spend time patrolling Interstate 75 because "we are trying to intervene in the middle with the criminal either transporting stolen goods, weapons, or anything criminal in nature," Cortez said while cruising the interstate on Thursday.

"That is part of the reason we spend time out there, to stop it from getting into Findlay or Fostoria," Cortez said.

The Street Crimes Unit also seeks to reduce traffic violations, injuries and deaths, Lowry said.

If there is an upswing in traffic crashes or citations in a specific area, he said police officers or deputies will increase patrols in the area.

Part of the equation will be using the city's Block Watch program, Horne said.

"These people live in the neighborhoods and they can tell us what is going on," he said. "We are going to use that information to try and solve their problems in their neighborhoods.



Along for the ride

Cortez took a Courier reporter on a "ride-a-long" this week on Interstate 75 to see a Street Crimes Unit member at work.

Within 15 minutes of observing motorists on Interstate 75, Cortez had his first lawbreaker, a speeder.

"It's my birthday, can't you cut me a break?" asked the Bowling Green woman who was clocked going 83 in a 65 mph zone.

As a birthday present, Cortez gave her a speeding ticket and a date in court.

After another uneventful traffic stop, Cortez went after an SUV driver who was following too closely and speeding.

Based on the man's responses to a few questions, Cortez said he had cause to call in Kevin the drug dog, handled by Deputy Tom Miller.

Kevin jumped on the SUV, his sniffer going full-force.

Working his way around the vehicle, Kevin barked and sat down next to the left rear fender, indicating he had picked up a scent of drugs, Cortez said.

But during a thorough inspection, nothing illegal turned up.

"It just means at some point there were some type of illegal narcotics in the vehicle," Cortez said.

After patrolling I-75 for a few hours, Cortez headed back into Findlay, where he made an arrest.

Cortez pulled over a Findlay man near the Findlay Village Mall after discovering his license plate did not match the vehicle.

The sheriff's dispatcher reported the man's license had been revoked in 2003.

The man was searched and handcuffed, then placed in the back of a cruiser while Cortez and Miller searched his car.

The two located a plastic bag full of marijuana, roughly 1.25 grams, Cortez said. The man was charged with possession of marijuana, driving under suspension and having fictitious registration.

On the way to jail, Cortez told the man he was facing, at minimum, a $500 bond to get out of jail. The man replied: "What, no recession special?"

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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10 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
seth wrote:
crime unit
“ Ryan,
Right I am well aware of the duties of the sheriff's office. They are mainly responsible for delivering paper services for the court and to administer the county jail by statue. I never called deputies, cops or misunderstood what their duties are. I guess if they really want to see if the trial works, compare the numbers of drugs obtained through regular traffic stops between the three departments and see who has the most or the most sizeable amount taken from the streets. I guess it is frustrating that the citizens only hear what the sheriff's office tells them. They claim they can only respond to certain calls and othershave to be handled on the phone because of budget restrictions and man power issues but they have units that do nothing but focus on traffic stops in the city where they already have an agency. And also on I 75 where there are state troopers that patrol it everyday. I never once knocked the deputies just how the seriff's office is managed! And to really show how the information is misleading, Sgt. Cortez seized a "bag full" of marijuana, (1.25 grams) that is probably less than is used in one cigarette. How small are these bags they are using to consider that small amount a "bag full"? ”
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:20:29 AM
Doug wrote:
NOT ABOUT REVENUE!
“ It's all about keeping the drugs out of Findlay and surrounding communities, not about revenue!

To Mike,,, 3 strikes and your out has only compounded the financial crisis in California. It's really about rehabilitation. Not enough is done in that area, for big time or small time drug users! Drugs are a nasty addiction, unfortunately most people who have never experienced that really have no clue! I ask of you, do you smoke cigarettes? The only difference is they are unfortunately a legal addictive substance! Addiction is more physical than it is mental. ”
Sunday, November 22, 2009 1:57:59 PM
Jeff wrote:
ummm not this citizen
“ Ryan-

"Don't knock any law enforcement because they are always the first one you call when your in danger or need help just remember that".

After having our home broken in to on 2 occasions only to find the perps ourselves AND all our stolen goods- the last people I will call, even if I'm laying on the ground in a pool of blood with my entrails hanging out, is our local law enforcement! ”
Sunday, November 22, 2009 1:34:39 PM
Doug wrote:
Crazy ideas?
“ Tom for your info, Ohio State Patrols have the authority to stop any person or traffic observed breaking the law within their jurisdiction. How could you complain about getting illegal activity contained by any officer, unless that is your a criminal yourself and worried you might get caught! Someone, YOU, need to know what your talking about before your diarrhea of your mouth makes you look as stupid as you sound!!! Good for those white cars doing their jobs, no matter where it is!!!!

As far as city cops on I75, I would guess by their daily experiences, the majority of illegal drugs are coming into Findlay via I75... ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:16:58 PM
Mike Fellers wrote:
Special crime unit
“ Great idea for the creation of Findlay Police and the Sheriff department forming a crime unit to help control crime in Findlay but their is one problem, the court system. There caught, convicted serve some time then get released to do it all over again. their is case files over one inch thick. I alway believe 3 strikes our out. I Hope someday the courts will get tough. But on the other hand their is no place to put them. ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:06:03 PM
Ryan wrote:
Revenue
“ Seth,
Yes it is something that is included in "normal" police work. There are specific characteristics that are common to drug traffickers. It is about revenue for the departments. There is only a certain portion of the shift that can be dedicated to proactive police work especially when there are limited patrols working. The Sheriff's Department is not a police department which is a common misconception. There are county responsibilities that are needed i.e. delivering warrants and subpoenas that cities do not do. I-75 is part of the targeted area due to the fact that it is one of the nation's "drug corridors". It runs from Miami to Detroit and it links several other major drug routes that run east to west I-40, I-20, I-24. It is a good thing that will help pay for their work and keep more police and deputies on the road or give them more revenue to purchase equipment that will help them enforce laws and prevent crime. Believe it or not its just facts. The trial run is for that reason to see if it works for the purpose it is intended. With the disbanding of the drug task force there still needs to be something to act at a minimum as a deterrent to keep drugs out of the county. Over 90% of all crimes can relate back to drugs, from marijuana to cocaine. Don't knock any law enforcement because they are always the first one you call when your in danger or need help just remember that. Go get the drugs and get rid of the crime and keep the crap out of the county!!! ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:34:13 PM
tom wrote:
our state police
“ take a drive down any main thoughafare on friday and saturday nite, and see who has a car pulled over, here is a hint, the color of the patrol car is white ,i have seen more people pulled over in the city by our state police , not our local police dept, someone needs to remind the state pratol they are not city cops ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:53:40 PM
bill wrote:
Lay Offs
“ How is it they said earlier this week about not being able to go to 911 hang ups but they are spending money to write tickets?? Why didn't they advertise this before the voters decided on the tax issues?? ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:54:10 AM
Frank wrote:
Someone help me out here.
“ How does handing out traffic citations on I75 to otherwide law abiding citizens make Findlay residents safer or prevent/solve any street crime? Why not put these officers on the street? ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:35:49 AM
seth wrote:
street crimes unit
“ Street Crimes unit? are you kidding me? I'm all about doing whatever to remove illegal activity from society, but what is explained thus far sounds like nothing more than a law enforcement officer doing what he/she is suppossed to do. So if they want to focus on the city of Findlay, why are they spending so much time on 75. Isn't there troopers that patrol that area? Were they included in this program? From reading about people who were indited for drug possession, it seems a lot of them came from troopers stopping them. ”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:51:23 AM
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This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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Bennett's Furniture Town
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

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

Owens announces holiday schedule
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.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

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

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

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