Friday, August 21, 1998
Cincinnati police have arrested one of the suspects in Wednesday's robbery at Fifth Third Bank in the West End -- a bank hit twice in two weeks.
Adrian Edmerson, 18, of South Fairmount is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on $150,000 bond on charges of aggravated robbery and two counts of receiving stolen property.
He gave a statement to police that he assisted in the aggravated robbery. He allegedly acted as the lookout while another man went inside and and robbed a bank manager at gunpoint. Police say Mr. Edmerson also stole a customer's car in the getaway.
Court records show police recovered $6,050 in cash and $1,000 in recent purchases from Mr. Edmerson's home.
A grand jury is expected to decide within two weeks whether to indict him.
Police are still looking for the gunman -- described as a 5-foot-8, 190-pound black man in his 40s with black hair graying on the sides. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
Water's till fine for recreational use
The Ohio River water quality index this week was "moderate" for recreational use, Cincinnati health officials reported Thursday. The latest reading -- based on samples collected Tuesday -- was 27, the same level as a week ago. A reading from 24 to 30 indicates "moderate" conditions.
The index measures bacterial pollution. High levels increase the risk of infections and illness for recreational users.
Mausoleum opened by cemetery vandals
MIAMI TOWNSHIP -- Several gravestones at Evergreen Cemetery in Miamiville in Clermont County were knocked over, and forced entry was made to the graveyard's mausoleum Wednesday night, police said Thursday. No graves were disturbed.
Damage at the cemetery on Center Street has not been determined. Anyone with information should call Miami Township police, 248-3721.
Search on for man trying to lure children
MADEIRA -- A man tried to lure two 12-year-old girls into his yellow-orange station wagon around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday near Miami Avenue and Greenbriar Lane, police said.
After the two girls ran -- neither was harmed -- the man fled eastbound on Greenbriar Lane in his car, described as a late 1970s to early '80s model with wood-grain sides.
The man, 55-65 years old, is about 5-feet-10, 170-180 pounds, with gray hair and a full beard and mustache. His station wagon is in poor condition and contained a large amount of clothing in the back.
Anyone with information should call the Madeira Police at 272-4214.
Courtroom outburst leads to indictment
A Hamilton County grand jury indicted a College Hill man Thursday for an Aug. 14 courtroom outburst.
Alphonso Bowers, 23, now faces three felony counts of assault, one count of escape and another of burglary. The charges stem from a brawl with deputies after a jury found him guilty of possessing crack cocaine. Mr. Bowers tried to flee the courtroom, police said. Three court service deputies tried to arrest Mr. Bowers, and a struggle ensued. One deputy tore ligaments in his hand, and another's face and arms were scratched.
Mr. Bowers was being held in lieu of a $4 million bond.
Murder-for-hire jury being formed
Jury selection in the murder-for-hire trial of Ahmad Fawzi Issa continues today.
Mr. Issa, 28, is accused of brokering a deal to kill the owner of an East Westwood grocery last year. He is charged with aggravated murder.
Jury selection began Monday and has stretched the entire week as attorneys asked prospective jurors about their views on the death penalty. Mr. Issa could be sentenced to death if convicted. Maher Khrais, 35, and his brother, Ziad Khreis, 49, were found dead Nov. 22 in the parking lot at the Save Way II grocery. Both had been shot execution-style.
Linda Khriss, Mr. Khrais' wife, was acquitted of charges she hired a hit man. Andre Miles, of Winton Place, is the accused gunman. He also faces aggravated murder charges.
School voucher case moves through courts
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Supreme Court plans to hear arguments in a school voucher case Sept. 28, but a ruling could be months away.
The state is appealing a 10th Ohio District Court of Appeals ruling more than a year ago that it is unconstitutional to give low-income Cleveland children tuition vouchers for private schools.
Any ruling shouldn't affect the 4,000 Cleveland children enrolled in the program this fall, the Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday. The Supreme Court has continued the program while the case is pending.
Voucher supporters hope a June ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which allowed parents in Milwaukee to send their children to religious schools, will uphold the constitutionality of the Cleveland program.
The Wisconsin court decided that including religious schools in the program did not violate the constitutional separation of church and state because parents and their children chose the school they attended.
Mother dies after finding home for kids
CLEVELAND -- A dying mother who turned to a TV talk show to find parents willing to adopt her two young daughters has died.
Jackie McClure, 41, of East Cleveland, died Monday night of AIDS and cervical cancer at St. Augustine Manor.
Ms. McClure appeared on the Sally Jessy Raphael show March 24 to ask for help finding adoptive parents for Tamika, 7, and Latasha, 8. Ms. McClure had no other family, and her daughters had different fathers who both were dead.
The girls moved in last month with Ronald and Katonya Everett of Wayneboro, Miss.
"They're doing fine," Mrs. Everett said.
