Cop’s lawyer said victim wants abduction charge dropped

By Lucas Sullivan | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 03:03 PM

KETTERING - A former Columbus-area police officer accused of trying to drown his ex-girlfriend pleaded not guilty today, Nov. 24, to a felony abduction charge and his attorney said the victim wants all charges dropped.

Joshua Gearhart

Joshua Gearhart, 27, of Circleville, a former Columbus police officer and auxiliary officer for the Whitehall Police Department, is in jail on $500,000 bond after entering the plea through closed circuit television.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Gearhart Sunday about 6 a.m. after deputies found his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend soaking wet and covered in mud, Maj. Scott Landis said. The woman said Gearhart made threatening statements and tried to drown her in a ditch, Sheriff Phil Plummer said.

His office refused to release the woman’s name.

“The (ex-girlfriend) called me and said she advised detectives on the case she does not want to pursue this,” said Gearhart’s attorney, Tony Cicero. “She said they had been drinking and one thing that happened is being characterized as something else.”

Landis said he is not aware of any such statements made by the woman.

Cicero said Gearhart’s bond is excessive because the Sunday incident is a “he said, she said” case. Gearhart’s attorney said he plans to discuss the girlfriend’s statements with Montgomery County prosecutors and hopes to have the Wright State University student home for Thanksgiving.

“He maintains his innocence,” Cicero said.

Gearhart was fired from the Columbus Police Department last fall after an internal investigation, The Columbus Dispatch reported at the time.

A spokesman for the Whitehall Police Department said Tuesday Gearhart is no longer associated with the force, The Dispatch reported. As a Columbus officer Gearhart was involved in the fatal shooting of a man who pointed a gun at officers, the newspaper reported.

Permalink | | More: Bizarre crimes, Kidnapping/abduction

Gang member sentenced to life in prison for murder

By Lucas Sullivan | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 02:03 PM

DAYTON - A man Dayton police called a violent, cold-blooded killer and known Dayton View Hustlers gang member was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, Nov. 24, for the murder of Isaac “Quan” Gibson.

Theron “T. Streets” Lewis

Keith “Hooskal King” Watson

Isaac “Quan” Gibson

Thomas “Tom-Tom” Watson

Theron “T. Streets” Lewis will be eligible for parole in 28 years, after Montgomery County Judge Frances McGee handed down her sentence. Lewis was convicted of murdering Gibson on Oct. 30 after jury deliberations lasted less than one day.

County prosecutors said Lewis, 24, and Keith Watson, both members of DVH, were involved in an argument with Gibson, 25, at a cookout in honor of homicide victim Thomas “Tom-Tom” Watson.

A fight ensued and Lewis shot and killed Gibson, police said.

Tom-Tom Watson, 25, was a high-ranking member of the DVH gang when he was gunned down in broad daylight on a basketball court in College Hill Park in April. Chamare Mays is awaiting trial in that case.

Lewis still faces charges for shooting at mourners filing out of a church in May after funeral services were held for Raymond “Byrd” McDaniel. McDaniel was killed days before in a gang-related attack outside apartments in the 1800 block of North James H. McGee Boulevard.

Gibson’s family maintains he is not a member of any gang, though police said he was a member of 100 Block Boyz.

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Firefighters want donations to help kids in need

By Lucas Sullivan | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11:51 AM

DAYTON - The International Association of Firefighters Dayton Local 136 wants toy donations for area kids in need this holiday season.

Firefighters are asking for any donations of new and unwrapped toys to help hundreds of children have a special holiday season. For more information call (937) 479-6696. Items can be dropped off at any of the city’s 12 fire stations:

• Station 2, 1009 E. Third St. • Station 4, 300 N. Main St. • Station 8, 2636 Stanley Ave. • Station 10, 1234 S. Broadway St. • Station 11, 145 Warren St. • Station 12, 4236 Brandt Pike • Station 13, 1723 W. Third St. • Station 14, 2213 N. Main St. • Station 15, 2801 Wayne Ave. • Station 16 4111 Kings Highway • Station 17, 4118 W. Third St. • Station 18, 207 S. Smithville Road

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Arrested gang member says gun bought at local show

By Lucas Sullivan | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:10 AM

DAYTON - Officers on the Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence arrested a Dayton View Hustler gang member for having a semiautomatic handgun he said was purchased at Bill Goodman’s Gun and Knife Show.

Michael Howard Jr., 19

Michael Howard Jr., 19, is in Montgomery County Jail on a having weapons while under disability charge after undercover agents with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force got a tip that drugs were being sold by DVH members out of an apartment at 229 Victor Ave., according to a police report.

The CIRGV officers arrived about 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, to hear loud music coming from Howard’s apartment, the report stated. Suddenly the music shut off and Howard opened the front door.

Officers noticed a small amount of marijuana next to a television and found a Hi-Point C9 9-millimeter handgun with nine bullets in the clip inside, the report stated.

Howard told them he gave his uncle $130 to buy the gun from Bill Goodman’s Gun and Knife Show, the report stated. Officers checked and the gun was not reported stolen.

Howard told the officers he was addicted to marijuana and was trying to stop smoking, the report stated. Howard has been cited three times in about a year for possession of marijuana, the report stated.

Nothing else was found in the apartment, the report stated.

Permalink | | More: Drug busts

Police officer arrested for attempted murder of ex-girlfriend

By Lucas Sullivan | Monday, November 23, 2009, 03:44 PM

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County - A Columbus-area police officer is in Montgomery County Jail on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly abducted his ex-girlfriend and tried to drown her in a ditch.

Joshua Gearhart, 27

Joshua Gearhart, 27, an auxiliary police officer with the Whitehall Police Department, was spotted near Leona Lane and Ohio 725 about 6 a.m. Sunday by sheriff’s deputies after witnesses reported a woman in the road, Maj. Scott Landis said.

Deputies found the woman covered in mud and grass clippings and soaking wet at a Shell Gas Station at Ohio 741 and Ohio 725, Landis said.

The woman said Gearhart, a former Columbus police officer, drove from there and the two went out Saturday night, Landis said. At some point, Gearhart requested she “do something for him,” and made threats that he would harm her if she didn’t, Landis said.

An argument ensued and the woman grabbed the keys from Gearhart’s truck and fled on foot, Landis said. Gearhart caught up with her, tried to drag her back to his truck and the two wrestled in a ditch full of water, Landis said.

Gearhart allegedly tried to drown the woman in the ditch, but failed, Sheriff Phil Plummer said. The woman is physically OK, Plummer said.

County prosecutors today approved a felony abduction charge against Gearhart, which allowed deputies to get a warrant that will keep him in jail, Landis said.

Gearhart was fired from the Columbus Police Department last fall after an internal investigation, the Columbus Dispatch reported at the time.

As a Columbus officer Gearhart was involved in the fatal shooting of a man who pointed a gun at officers, the newspaper reported.

He now serves as a part-time officer with the Whitehall Police Department, investigators said.

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DP&L helps fatal fire victims

By Lucas Sullivan | Monday, November 23, 2009, 03:10 PM

DAYTON - Dayton Power and Light has stepped in to help a family displaced by a triple fatal fire, as donations pour in for a family who said they lost nearly everything.

Tabitha Coleman said Monday, Nov. 23, she now has electricity at her new apartment and has received a lot of donations over the weekend.

Coleman, her boyfriend Tranel Philpot and son Isaiah, were next door in the same duplex at 2820 E. First St. that nearly burned to the ground Nov. 12.

The blaze killed her neighbors Kennetha Gay, Gay’s 3-month-old son Ken’Ron Treadwell and 4-year-old daughter Mirissa Gay. Those three were laid to rest Monday in front of a packed house at the House of Wheat Funeral Home.

Coleman said she was “grateful” for the numerous items she received, but could still use furniture for her place on North Jersey Street.

Coleman, 22, and Isaiah, 2, are thankful to be alive, but they’ve lost everything.

DP&L spokeswoman Lesley Sprigg said comments made by Coleman and her landlord Mark Pardue that the company was trying to charge $175 to transfer service was not correct.

“(DP&L) does not charge customers to transfer service,” Sprigg said.

Coleman said a technician was out to transfer the service this morning.

Anyone who wishes to drop off furniture, food or toiletries to Coleman and her family can leave them at 212 N. Jersey St.

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Juvenile arrested in drug-related shooting death of 19-year-old

By Lucas Sullivan | Monday, November 23, 2009, 09:49 AM

DAYTON - A 16-year-old boy and possible relative of Trenton Scroggins has been arrested for his shooting death, according to police.

Trenton Scroggins, 19

The juvenile, who turned 16 on Saturday, Nov. 21, was involved in shooting Scroggins that day about 8 p.m. over a drug debt, Sgt. Gary White said. Police are not releasing the juvenile’s name, but said he could be Scroggins’ cousin.

Scroggins, 19, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with four gunshot wounds in a friend’s car but was later transported by ambulance to Miami Valley Hospital where he died about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police said.

White said the shooting appears to be gang-related and numerous witnesses to the shooting are not cooperating in the investigation.

Officers responded to an initial report of four men were chasing a man down Willowwood Drive near Shadyside Drive while shooting at him about 7:45 p.m. Saturday, police said.

They arrived to find blood and shell casings, but no victim.

Police reports show Scroggins had a criminal past that started when he was a juvenile. His mother, Crystal Scroggins, told officers when her son was 17 he was “bipolar” and needed medication, according to a report.

As a juvenile Scroggins was arrested on a felony aggravated robbery charge where he used a toy gun to steal a DVD player and compact discs, according to a police report.

He more than once cut off his monitoring ankle bracelet while on house arrest, a report stated.

Scroggins was arrested in August on a misdemeanor public indecency charge after groping a 19-year-old woman in public. In that report an officer wrote Scroggins was “a known drug trafficker” who uses Third and Main streets to “ply his trade.”

Scroggins is the city’s 37th homicide victim this year and fourth this month. To check the status of all homicides since 2008 and view an interactive map where they occurred, click here.

The arrested juvenile is in the Montgomery County Juvenile Justice Center and is expected to appear in court some time today, police said.

Permalink | | More: Homicides, Shootings