BY RANDY McNUTT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD -- Four Oxford males, three of them juveniles, face court dates for allegedly throwing eggs on council members' vehicles and sending death threats last month, Oxford police said.
"The kids came in and 'fessed up," Detective Sgt. John Buchholz said Thursday. "Once one came in, the others followed. Of course, we did have them on video camera at Kroger (buying eggs)."
Mark Walker, 18, of Oxford, is to appear in Area One Court on Aug. 14 on four separate charges of aggravated menacing and criminal mischief. The four sets of charges are for the four houses that were involved in the incident, Sgt. Buchholz said.
Also, three Oxford juveniles were each charged with one set each of juvenile delinquency by means of aggravated menacing and criminal mischief. They are to appear in juvenile court Aug. 12.
Mayor William Snavely said Thursday he hopes the arrests will "close an unfortunate chapter in our community's history. I look positively to the future. This is not about winning or losing. It's about community."
The threats came July 18, while the city awaited demolition of the 76-year-old uptown water tower, a controversial matter. This week, crews are tearing down the tower.
Notes left near the front doors of the homes of Mr. Snavely and council members Ken Bogard, Vanessa Cummings and George Goodell warned they would be killed if they didn't stop demolition of Oxford's 135-foot water tower.
The notes said: "Democracy has failed. The peoples wishes have been denied. You have been punished. Save the water tower or die."
Vandals also threw eggs at the homes of the four council members. Eggs also were smashed on the cars of Mr. Snavely and Mr. Bogard and a car owned by Ms. Cummings' sister. Mr. Goodell said his two cars were inside his garage.
