By 1812Blockhouse
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has released this week’s Most Wanted list, featuring the following individuals:
A traffic stop on Thursday resulted in an arrest and seizure of 435 grams of methamphetamine. The stop took place in the 600 block of South Diamond Street in Mansfield by Mansfield Police and the METRICH Enforcement Unit.
The stop, arrest, and seizure were the result of work done by METRICH to investigate illegal drugs entering into the city of Mansfield and surrounding communities.
According to authorities, Elijah Myers, 21, was charged with second-degree felony drug possession and is being held at the Richland County jail. The level of offense was triggered by the amount of drugs seized. Further charges will be presented to the Richland County Prosecutors office.
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By 1812Blockhouse; Office of Governor DeWine News Release
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Friday that 13 local law enforcement agencies will receive a total of $9.1 million to help prevent and investigate incidents of violent crime in their communities.
The Mansfield Division of Police was one of those receiving funds.
The grants represent the 11th round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. To date, Governor DeWine has awarded over $79 million to 159 Ohio law enforcement agencies as part of this program. Approximately $100 million will be awarded to local law enforcement agencies as part of the grant program in total.
“We must ensure that local law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to prevent and investigate violent crime, and these grants support that mission,” said Governor DeWine.
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Special to 1812Blockhouse
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz recently announced that ODNR has begun outfitting all natural resources and wildlife officers with body cameras.
“Body cameras are becoming an increasingly important piece of technology in all areas of law enforcement,” said Governor DeWine. “These new cameras have the ability to protect natural resources and wildlife officers while also offering transparency to the public.”
ODNR officers are certified peace officers who are required to enforce all laws and statutes of the state within their jurisdictions.
Governor DeWine directed ODNR to begin the process toward outfitting their officers with body cameras last year. Following that directive, ODNR pursued approval from the Ohio Controlling Board to use $3.5 million in federal funding from the Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to purchase the new cameras.
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By SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON Associated Press/Report For America
Intentional false reports about school shootings and other hoax emergency calls could be prosecuted as a felony under legislation passed by the Republican-led Ohio House on Wednesday.
The bill would create a felony offense for “swatting,” which is when someone knowingly reports a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement, such as a kidnapping, school shooting or other violent crimes. Supporters of the bill say such situations cause unnecessary panic, disruption and expense, and can end with innocent people being arrested or harmed.
GOP Rep. Kevin Miller, of Newark, who sponsored the legislation, said such false alarms can “create highly charged incidents” that end in tragedy.
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By 1812Blockhouse, Mansfield Division of Police
Yet another shooting has left one dead and local law enforcement searching for answers.
The Mansfield Division of Police patrol officers responded to the 300 block of Jennings Avenue at approximately 7:02 AM on Friday morning in reference to a “man down” call. Upon arriving, an unknown suspect was laying across 375 Jennings Avenue, dressed all in black, wearing a mask and obviously deceased. The Richland County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene which was then processed for evidence.
The victim, later identified as 19-year-old Joseph A. Andrews, Jr.. had been reported as a “missing person” that morning by his family. Prior to the victim being reported missing, a vehicle matching the description of the one the victim had been known to drive was found engulfed in flames at North Lake Park at approximately 12:44 AM. Detectives are working to identify the owner of that vehicle but the fire damage has delayed their efforts.
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By 1812Blockhouse
An Ohio man, a previously convicted sex offender, was sentenced today to a 30-year prison term on a federal charge of distribution of child pornography.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Joshua McCarty, 38, of Mansfield pleaded guilty in January 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper. Upon completion of his prison term, McCarty will be placed on 10 years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in the images that he distributed. McCarty also must register as a sex offender following his release from prison.
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By 1812Blockhouse
The Mansfield Division of Police is looking for a man wanted on a Felony warrant.
According to a press release from the Division posted on Monday afternoon, the man, Michael A. Childress, is suspected in another recent shooting in the city of Mansfield.
The release reads in part: “The Mansfield Division of Police responded to a 911 call for assistance at the Moto-Mart at 1050 West Fourth Street on Sunday morning, May 1, at approximately 2:51 AM, in reference to a 31-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. Once at the location, officers located the victim, Kenneth D. Norris (B/M, 31 years old), near the door of the business suffering from a bullet wound to the head. The victim was immediately transferred to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and was left in the care of hospital staff. No further information on his condition is available at this time.
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By 1812Blockhouse; Office of Governor DeWine
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced a new plan to eliminate evidence-processing backlogs and increase the speed at which criminal evidence is analyzed in crime laboratories across the state.
As part of Governor DeWine’s new Ohio Crime Lab Efficiency Program, Ohio’s 14 certified crime laboratories will receive a combined total of $10 million to reduce and eliminate backlogs, increase overall lab efficiency, and decrease evidence processing time.
The Mansfield Division of Police is one of those recipients.
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By 1812Blockhouse
The following was shared by the Mansfield Division of Police Friday afternoon concerning another shooting.
This makes three such incidents in less than 24 hours. Our first story can be read here:
Friday afternoon. The Mansfield Division of Police is currently investigating a shooting which occurred in the 700 block of King Street on Friday afternoon.
“The PSCC/Dispatch Center received several 911 calls at 2:42PM in reference to this shooting. The 15-year-old juvenile victim suffered numerous gunshot wounds to the upper body and was transported by EMS to a local hospital where he has succumbed to his injuries. Major Crimes is currently investigating this Homicide and working to determine a motive as well as the identity of the shooter, who is believed to be a female, based on the preliminary investigation.
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