Feds charge 8 in Ohio with stealing retirement benefits
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The government has accused eight people in Ohio of stealing Social Security and other retirement benefits totaling nearly $800,000.
Federal prosecutors say that in seven cases, Social Security benefits that were paid to deceased individuals were illegally collected.
Three of those are accused of collecting benefits paid to their mothers after they died, including one man who prosecutors say collected $273,000 paid to his mother after her 1993 death.
Prosecutors say in an eighth case the identity of a 65-year-old man who is still alive was stolen and used to collect the man’s benefits.
Ohio’s two U.S. Attorneys, Benjamin Glassman in Columbus and Justin Herdman in Cleveland, announced the charges Thursday.
The prosecutions are part of a national Social Security fraud project.
Prosecutor: No charges for Ohio dog attack that killed baby
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — A county prosecutor in central Ohio says no criminal charges will be filed against the father of an infant killed last week by one of the family’s dogs.
Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said Friday that after conferring with county sheriff’s detectives and the county coroner that there was no reason to believe the 1-month-old boy’s father “intended for his child to come to any harm.”
County Coroner Jennifer Ogle said Wednesday the baby suffered extensive injuries, including puncture wounds to his head.
The boy’s 25-year-old father called 911 on Sept. 20 to report that he woke up and discovered his son had been mauled in his bassinet. The boy’s 23-year-old mother wasn’t at home at the time.
Two pit bulls removed from the home have been euthanized.
Teen indicted on conspiracy charge for 2016 school threat
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A teenage boy who authorities say plotted a mass shooting at a suburban Columbus high school has been indicted as an adult on conspiracy to commit murder charge.
A Franklin County grand jury handed up the indictment against 17-year-old John Staley III on Thursday in Columbus.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien says Staley was suspended from Hilliard Davidson High School in October 2016 after a student heard Staley discussing a shooting plot on a school bus. O’Brien says Staley created diagrams of different parts of the school, tried to recruit other students and wrote down what kinds of weapons and ammunition would be needed.
Staley’s attorney couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Friday. Staley has a scheduled court appearance Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Police: Thousands in cash scattered after car chase, crash
WORTHINGTON, Ohio (AP) — Police say around $15,000 was scattered after two cars crashed during a chase between their drivers.
WSYX-TV reports the crash occurred Thursday morning in Sharon Township outside of Columbus. Police say the cars were side-by-side when both drivers lost control at a railroad crossing.
One of the cars ended up on its roof and the other crashed into a veterinarian’s office.
Two women and three children were taken to hospitals for what police say are non-life threatening injuries.
Police say the money will likely be returned. Neither driver is cooperating with authorities.
Police: Boy dies after apparent accidental shooting
PARMA, Ohio (AP) — Police in a Cleveland suburb say the death of a 4-year-old boy who shot himself in the head appears to be an accident.
Parma police say the boy shot himself Thursday afternoon after finding a gun in a vehicle parked in the driveway of his family’s home. An emergency crew took him to a hospital where he died.
Police haven’t released the name of the boy or his family.
Parma police Lt. Kevin Riley says the boy’s family is cooperating with investigators.
Park ranger accused of kicking woman, throwing man to ground
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio parks district has placed a ranger on paid leave after he was accused of kicking an elderly woman and throwing a man to the ground before placing them in handcuffs.
Carl Wilson tells WJW-TV the Summit Metro Parks ranger followed him and his wife home from an Akron park on Wednesday after Wilson honked at him. He says the ranger confronted the couple in their driveway and handcuffed them before an Akron police officer arrived.
The couple, both in their 70s, faced charges including resisting arrest and obstruction of official business.
The head of the parks district said Thursday that she has requested charges against the couple be dropped. She says the district is reviewing the confrontation and has asked Akron police to conduct an investigation.
Columbus honors officer’s 56 years on force, longest ever
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus is honoring the longest-serving police officer in the city’s history, whose 56 years of service began when officers still checked in via call box.
Lt. Karl Barth was hired by the city on Sept. 25, 1961. He officially retired Monday and will be recognized by the city Division of Police on Friday.
The agency says the 77-year-old Barth took only one sick day in his career. He served under eight mayors and met 11 presidents, beginning with John F. Kennedy.
Barth helped with planning for some of the city’s biggest events over the years, including the annual Red, White & Boom fireworks show, the Columbus marathon, the Arnold sports festival and the Quarter Horse Congress.
