Ohio News Briefs

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Lawyer won’t rely on ride maker for cause of fair accident

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The lawyer pursuing a possible lawsuit over a man’s death on a thrill ride that broke apart at the Ohio State Fair says he won’t rely on the manufacturer’s explanation that excessive corrosion was the cause.

Attorney Mark Kitrick tells Cleveland.com that his firm hired a crash reconstruction company to investigate the death of 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell. Kitrick says the company hasn’t been able to inspect the Fire Ball, a swinging and spinning ride that broke apart July 26.

The ride’s Dutch manufacturer, KMG, says company officials conducted metallurgical tests and concluded that excessive corrosion on a support beam holding a passenger gondola led to a “catastrophic failure” on the 18-year-old ride.

Seven other people were hurt, some seriously.

KMG ordered similar rides shut down worldwide after the accident.

Ohio WWII veteran receives Purple Heart, Bronze Star honors

HILLSBORO, Ohio (AP) — A 95-year-old Ohio veteran who fought in the Philippines during World War II has received medals to honor his military service seven decades ago.

WCPO-TV reports that a commander from Harry Shoop’s old infantry unit presented the Allensburg man with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star on Monday in Hillsboro.

The Purple Heart recognizes that he was wounded while fighting, having been shot through the hand.

The Bronze Start acknowledges “heroic” actions or other achievements of merit in combat.

Shoop says the medals are reminders of his sacrifices and his love for the United States.

Tank leak oozes 300,000 tons of molten glass into Ohio plant

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say 300,000 tons of molten glass spilled from a ruptured tank at an Ohio plant, oozing like lava from a small hole that quickly grew to 10 feet wide.

It wrapped around structural beams at the Owens-Illinois glass plant in Zanesville on Monday. Firefighters worked for hours to cool the glass so it wouldn’t destroy beams and collapse the building.

No injuries were reported.

Owens-Illinois tells the Zanesville Times Recorder that employees followed safety protocols, and the damage is being assessed.

South Zanesville Fire Chief Russell Taylor says the rupture started with a hole that quickly grew.

He says firefighters were well prepared because he and other area fire officials had taken the precaution of talking with the plant in recent weeks about how to handle a potential rupture.

Sheriff: Escaped Ohio rape suspect kills self at family home

ANTWERP, Ohio (AP) — A rape suspect who overpowered an Ohio sheriff’s deputy to escape a transport van has killed himself during a police standoff, ending a manhunt.

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Branden Lee Powell shot himself Monday night at his parents’ home near Antwerp, roughly 70 miles southwest of Toledo, near the Indiana line. Officers determined Powell was in a crawl space and say they tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to surrender.

Investigators say Powell stole a gun from the deputy he overpowered during a Friday trip from a psychiatric hospital to a county jail.

Powell jumped over a seat wearing leg shackles and handcuffs and put the deputy in a headlock, causing the van to crash. Authorities say Powell forced the deputy to remove the restraints and fled.

Police: Driver critically injured in collision with cruiser

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati police say a driver is in critical condition after colliding with a marked police SUV.

Police say a car driven by 30-year-old Tyrone Mack crossed the center line Monday and hit Sgt. Charles White’s vehicle.

Mack suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

White was treated for minor injuries and released.

Police continue to investigate.

Lawyer who ran ‘Breaking Bad’ scheme loses appeal

CLEVELAND (AP) — A Cleveland defense attorney in federal prison for running a money laundering scheme inspired by “Breaking Bad” has lost an appeal of his conviction.

Forty-six-year-old Matthew King was convicted in June 2016 of agreeing to launder $20,000 for a confidential informant who was posing as a cocaine dealer.

In his appeal, King objected to the use of his recorded conversations with the informant as evidence. One of the recordings captured him proposing to imitate a scheme on the TV show.

King said he should have been allowed to cross-examine the informant, who did not testify.

In an opinion issued last week, a federal appeals court rejected that argument, saying the recordings merely established that the informant presented the funds as ill-gotten.

King is serving a 44-month sentence.

Ohio to manage city of Toledo’s annual audit

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio city’s annual audit will be handled by the state instead of a private firm for the first time in decades after the discovery that the city illegally commingled funds for years.

The Ohio auditor’s spokesman tells The Blade newspaper that the firm Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co. was pulled from the Toledo audit contract.

Ben Marrison says it “made no sense” to duplicate the work after city officials asked their office to conduct an audit. Marrison says the audit is expected to cost more than $180,000.

Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson asked the state to intervene last month after a retired Ohio Supreme Court justice found finance officials commingled funds, leading to uncertainty over the city’s finances.

The Blade reports auditing firm representatives couldn’t be reached for comment.

Authorities: 85-year-old Ohio dad kills son in self-defense

CUMBERLAND, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say an 85-year-old man fatally shot his son in what authorities believe was self-defense during a domestic dispute in eastern Ohio.

The Zanesville Times Recorder reports Guernsey County Sheriff’s deputies said the victim’s mother called 911 Friday night, saying her 64-year-old son was intoxicated and threatened to kill her.

Sheriff’s Lt. Sam Williams said the son began firing at his 84-year-old mother while she was talking to the dispatcher and her husband retrieved a rifle and returned fire, fatally wounding his son.

The son died shortly after deputies arrived at the family’s home near Cumberland, about 80 miles east of Columbus.

The sheriff’s office says investigators believe the fatal gunshot was fired in self-defense, and the father was released from custody.

No charges were filed.

Child found unresponsive in Ohio home with dead animals dies

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Police say a 1-year-old girl found unresponsive in a home with more than a dozen dead animals inside has died in southwest Ohio.

Dayton police had said there were “cleanliness issues” at the house where the girl was found over the weekend and removed by medics to a hospital. Authorities say a couple identifying themselves as her grandparents reported finding her not breathing.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office on Monday identified the child as Arez Marie Isabella Schrodi, but wouldn’t comment on cause or time of death.

Authorities say four other children at the home were put into child protective services.

An Animal Resource Center official said the dead animals included more than a dozen snakes and a cat.

A message seeking additional information was left for police Monday.

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