According to an arrest report probable cause affidavit filed in Clark County Municipal Court, Brown called 911 shortly before 9 a.m. July 31, saying he found Dawn Howard nude but wrapped in a blanket on a bedroom floor in her apartment in the 600 block of Villa Road. He said it appeared she had been severely beaten, and that he carried Howard into the bathtub and cleaned her up before calling for help.
When medics and police arrived, Howard was face-down on the bedroom floor and unresponsive. She was partially dressed and was suffering from serious trauma to her head and torso. She was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center and then transferred by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, according to the affidavit from Springfield police detective Daniel Dewine.
Hospital staff on Wednesday night would not release any information about Howard.
Dewine stated Brown’s Dodge pickup truck, parked in front of the apartment, had fresh damage to the front, including what appeared to be blood.
“When detectives began interviewing him about the damage, and what his actions were when he found the victim, he refused to assist with locating the accident scene and answering any further questions about the victim,” Dewine stated in his criminal complaint filed with the court.
Brown told police the last time he saw Howard was the evening of July 30. He said he was alone when his truck was damaged, but would not say where it happened or make an official statement. Police said they did not believe Howard was injured inside her apartment, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Brown was charged with obstructing official business. He has a pretrial hearing scheduled for Oct. 5. If convicted as charged, the second-degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.