Tuesday, April 21, 1998
A Corryville man who allegedly threatened to kill three Cincinnati police officers during his arrest Saturday committed suicide hours later with a shoestring in his jail cell.
Orlando Rachel, 20, of the 2700 block of Euclid Avenue was identified in court records as a major drug offender.
Police responded to a call Saturday saying Mr. Rachel was assaulting a woman.
After being told repeatedly he was under arrest, Mr. Rachel picked up a metal bar and struggled with officers, Officer Thomas Mullis wrote in an arrest report.
Officers Mullis, Jeffrey Shari and Eli Orth said in court documents that Mr. Rachel threatened to kill them and make someone pay for taking him back to jail. Once inside a police cruiser, he allegedly kicked out a back window.
A corrections officer found Mr. Rachel about 10:30 p.m. with a shoelace tied around his neck and to a towel rack.
Authorities from the Hamilton County sheriff's and coroner's offices are investigating.
Minister said to be gay won't facce church trial
There will be no national ecclesial trial for a Knox Presbyterian Church elder accused of being gay, church officials said Monday. The judicial commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) was scheduled to hear the case in August, but the former member who contested the elder's ordination recently withdrew his appeal, said Mark Tammen of the denomination's constitutional services office. The case "basically dies," Mr. Tammen said. "If (the complainant) has withdrawn it, it can't be resurrected again."
The elder was ordained by the Hyde Park church in 1995 and has asked not to be identified because he is concerned about harassment.
2nd man pleads guilty in bank-loan ruse
A second man pleaded guilty Monday to bank fraud by obtaining loans with the names, Social Security numbers and credit ratings of unsuspecting people.
Maurice A. Stephens, 36, of 3091 McHenry Ave., Westwood, admitted 12 counts and was freed on his promise to appear for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Sandra S. Beckwith.
Previously, Maclevader Smith, 34, of 8230 Galbraith Point Lane, Mount Healthy, admitted one count of bank fraud and was freed until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. attorney John DiPuccio said an accomplice in North Carolina stole credit data from legitimate car loan applications there and the Ohioans used the data to create local identities.
4 kids found in filthy home; woman charged
A 30-year-old Price Hill woman was charged with four counts of endangering children Monday after police found four children home alone in filth.
Police charged Rhonda Griffin of the 700 block of Wells Street after finding the children home alone Monday morning in "unbelievable conditions." Police said there was no food in the house, no clean clothes and dog feces in two upstairs bedrooms.
The children, ages, 8, 10, 11 and 14, should have been in school, police said.
Computer to end wait for reviewing permits
Hamilton County Administrator David Krings said several departments that must sign off on building permits will be able to review the plans without taking turns by the end of the summer.
The building inspector, health district, engineer, public works department and others now review the plans one after the other, which takes longer. The Homebuilders Association of Greater Cincinnati has complained.
The concurrent reviews will be made possible by a new computer mapping system, Mr. Krings said.
At the same time, a consulting company, Management Partners Inc., is completing an $11,950 study of the building department to improve its customer service.
