Ohio News Briefs

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Ohio passes 3-day break from state sales tax this summer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Shoppers in Ohio would get a three-day break from the state’s sales tax this summer under a bill being sent to the governor’s desk.

The tax-exempt period would cover Aug. 5-7. It would apply to clothing items that cost $75 or less and to classroom supplies and instructional materials that cost $20 or less. Such items include book bags, textbooks, notebooks and pencils.

The House passed the bill on a 94-1 vote Wednesday.

The proposal follows a similar tax holiday held last year to help back-to-school shoppers reduce the cost of clothing and school supplies.

A legislative analysis found the bill could reduce state revenue by up to $15 million in the next budget year.

Backers say customers shopping during the holiday period also buy other non-exempt goods.

Relative: 5 of 8 shot in Ohio will be buried side by side

LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) — The brother of some of the eight family members found shot last week in rural southern Ohio says five victims will be buried side by side in a nearby town.

Seven adults and 16-year-old boy were found dead Friday at four properties near Piketon. Investigators have questioned more than 30 people in the case but have made no arrests.

Tony Rhoden tells The Columbus Dispatch his 73-year-old mother has been holding the grieving family together.

Rhoden lost two brothers, his former sister-in-law and a cousin in the slayings. He says the victims also included a teenage nephew who had just earned a driver’s license, a 19-year-old niece who worked at a nursing home and had a days-old newborn, and a 20-year-old nephew who loved to hunt and fish.

Ohioan pleads no contest to charges after grandpa’s death

TROY, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio woman has pleaded no contest to charges including corpse abuse and evidence tampering in connection with the death of her grandfather, whose body was found in a sleeping bag in a Kentucky creek last summer.

Twenty-four-year-old Hope Earnshaw-York could face more than nine years in prison at her sentencing, set for June 7. The Tipp City woman entered her pleas Monday in Miami County court in Troy.

Richard Terrel, of Troy, also is charged in the death of 88-year-old William York Sr., of Tipp City. Terrel pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, felonious assault, corpse abuse, evidence tampering and receiving stolen property.

Police say the victim died of a blunt force head injury. His remains were found June 3 in a creek in Union, Kentucky.

Man held family at home for days, screwed door shut

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities say Cleveland man armed with a pistol kidnapped his girlfriend and four children at home by screwing their front door shut and trapping them inside for four days.

Cleveland.com reports 26-year-old Jonathan Rodriguez is charged with kidnapping, domestic violence and endangering children.

Court records list no attorney for Rodriguez, who was jailed. His arraignment is Thursday.

Authorities allege Rodriguez slapped his girlfriend, broke her cellphone and fired a shot on April 1. Authorities say she tried to escape, but Rodriguez dragged her back inside the home.

Rodriguez is accused of then forcing his family to stay inside and threatening them by saying he would kill them and take his own life.

Days later, Rodriguez allowed his girlfriend to attend a meeting with a social worker, who called police.

Ohio man shoots, wounds own son, mistakes him for intruder

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police say an Ohio man shot and wounded his own son after mistaking him for an intruder.

Officers responded to a Columbus home Tuesday morning for an unknown complaint.

When they arrived they say 51-year-old Biyaga Ceesay told them that a stranger had shot his son. Later, the man said he accidentally shot his son because he thought he was an intruder trying to rob the family.

The boy is hospitalized in stable condition and is expected to recover.

Ceesay has been charged with domestic violence, assault and child endangerment.

Northeast Ohio man alleges officers used excessive force

CLEVELAND (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed by a 62-year-old man alleges police in northeast Ohio slammed him into the ground even though he wasn’t being aggressive toward them.

Cleveland.com reports the lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges Parma officers threw Mark Bartkiewicz to the ground in May 2015 when they responded to a domestic disturbance call at his Parma home. The lawsuit says he tore his rotator cuff in the encounter.

Bartkiewicz says the city and officers violated his civil rights. He’s asking for an unnamed amount in damages.

Lt. Kevin Riley says the department can’t comment on the lawsuit. But he released a report indicating that Bartkiewicz was resisting when officers took him to the ground.

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