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Crime wave irks Dayton police chief

City's top cop Biehl asks community to help police solve recent spate of homicides.

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By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer 8:52 PM Friday, August 21, 2009

DAYTON — The city’s fourth homicide in six days prompted police Chief Richard Biehl on Friday, Aug. 21, to ask the community to rally behind his department and find those responsible for the recent killings.

The barrage that includes nine shootings in those six days has irked Biehl, who said he is taking the crime wave “personally.”

The most recent homicide, the city’s 30th this year, occurred late Thursday night at 929 Wilmington Ave. At least three men were seen fleeing an apartment at the Wilmington-Bellaire complex where police found the body of 32-year-old Benjamin Gulley.

Gulley stayed there with a friend who was the only person listed on the lease, Lt. John Bardun said. Gulley is a known heroin user and in December was pepper sprayed by police when they said he tried to throw a punch while being arrested.

Also killed in the last six days were Kenneth Broadus, 48; David Green, 52; and Bryan Gillum, 33. Police say the deaths of Gillum and Green appear to be drug-related.

The city’s 30 homicides are as many as this time last year, but come nine months into Biehl’s Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence program.

After a press conference to reaffirm the initiative’s purpose, Biehl said injuries related to gun violence and overall gun crimes are down this year.

“These recent incidents show we’ve clearly taken a step backward and we’ve got to get it fixed,” he said, noting that it’s unrealistic for the community to put that burden solely on his department.

“We will do our share, but we really need the support of the citizens to step up and tell who are committing these crimes,” he said. “As we have said and will continue to repeat, enough is enough.”

Crime wave claims four lives

Four men have been shot and killed in Dayton in six days in a series of nine shootings. Police said they have numerous leads, but have not made arrests in any of the homicides.

Aug. 15: Bryan Gillum, 33, of Xenia, killed at 314 Ethel Ave. at 5:30 p.m. in an apparent drug deal gone bad.

Aug. 16: David Green, 52, killed at 1529 Weaver St. about 6:30 p.m., in what police said was a robbery connected to drugs.

Aug. 19: Kenneth Broadus, 48, killed in the 3000 block of Wesleyan Road about 10 p.m. by a drive-by shooter.

Aug. 20: Benjamin Gulley, 32, killed in his apartment at 929 Wilmington Ave. about 11:30 p.m., by one of three men seen fleeing his apartment.

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