Tuesday, September 21, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Shooting investigated at Lincoln Courts
Police are searching for clues to why two people were shot at the Lincoln Courts apartment complex on Clark Street on Monday afternoon.
The two victims, whose names were not released, were wounded in the arm and leg, said Cincinnati Police Sgt. Rodney Carter. He said the two were taken to University Hospital with injuries said not to be life-threatening.
Police said the shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. in a courtyard of the apartment complex. Sgt. Carter said police have no motive in the shooting and conflicting descriptions of the shooter. The investigation continues.
Two Arizona men held on drug charges
Two Arizona men arrested after a two-year undercover drug investigation in Cincinnati were jailed Monday in lieu of a combined $8 million bond.
Luis Ramos Luna, 34, was charged with trafficking in drugs after police say he flew to Cincinnati to receive payment for 65 pounds of marijuana he previously shipped from his Douglas, Ariz., home to Greater Cincinnati. Hamilton County Municipal Judge Dennis Helmick set his bond at $5 million.
Marc E. O'Bannon, 28, who lists addresses in Phoenix and Tempe, Ariz., was ordered held on $3 million bond. Mr. O'Bannon was already awaiting sentencing after an arrest in February near Toledo for his role in shipping 137 pounds of marijuana and 4.5 pounds of cocaine from Phoenix to Cincinnati.
While out on bond following his arrest, Mr. O'Bannon was arrested again for allegedly forwarding marijuana to Cincinnati via UPS and other carriers.
The investigation by the regional narcotics unit has resulted in the seizure of 250 pounds of marijuana, worth about $250,000, and 4.5 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $50,000, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said.
The investigation documented the distribution of more than 1,900 pounds of marijuana to Greater Cincinnati in recent years by Phoenix drug traffickers, police said.
Ex-Bengal faces child support charges
Retired Cincinnati Bengals running back James Brooks will go to court today to face charges that he owes about $105,000 in child support payments.
Mr. Brooks, the Bengals' all-time leading rusher, is accused of failing to pay support for his 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
Prosecutors say he has lived in London for the past five years, most recently working as a security guard.
He was arrested in August in Atlanta after arriving at the airport from London. Prosecutors and his attorney had negotiated a deal to get Mr. Brooks back to Cincinnati prior to his arrest, but he flew to Atlanta before final arrangements could be made.
He was arrested when customs officials realized he was wanted on a federal fugitive warrant.
He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center and will be arraigned today before Common Pleas Judge Steven Martin.
Man pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide A Cincinnati man accused of hitting a pedestrian with his car and then leaving the scene pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide Monday in Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Municipal Judge Dennis Helmick ordered police to hold Otis Hill, 32, of Harrison Avenue, and set his bond at $1 million. Mr. Hill was arrested Saturday after he allegedly struck and killed Vivian Roper, 44, of Over-the-Rhine at the intersection of Linn and York streets about 2:21 a.m.
Police say Mr. Hill fled the scene of the accident but was apprehended by officers five minutes later driving along Central Parkway. According to police reports, Mr. Hill was driving under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs at the time of the crash. Mr. Hill has a prior DUI in Georgia and a history of failing to appear for court dates.
Mr. Hill was also charged with felony leaving the scene and weaving and driving under suspension, both misdemeanors.
Avondale fire leaves family of 3 homeless
Three people were left homeless and a firefighter suffered minor injuries after a kitchen fire turned into a two-alarm blaze in Avondale early Monday.
The blaze began at 12:30 a.m. at an apartment building in the 300 block of Glenwood Avenue, said Mose Demasi, a Cincinnati Fire Division chief.
A resident was deep-frying food when the grease overheated and caught fire, Chief Demasi said. The fire ignited cabinets above the stove and quickly spread to rest of apartment.
Heavy smoke spread throughout the building. Firefighters rescued seven people. Fire apparatus operator Michael Walker slipped from a ladder and suffered minor injuries, Mr. Demasi said.
The fire caused $40,000 in damage and left a family of three homeless. The American Red Cross provided the family with shelter.
Nearly 40 firefighters were on the scene for 21/2 hours.
Insurance agent gets 4 years for theft
BATAVIA — An insurance agent convicted of aggravated theft for selling bogus extensions of policies was sentenced Monday to four years in prison and ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution to an insurance company.
David Kuczaj, 48, an insurance agent in the Cincinnati suburb of Milford, was convicted June 7 in Clermont County Common Pleas Court of four felony counts of aggravated theft. Judge Robert Ringland ordered him Monday to serve four consecutive one-year prison terms and to pay restitution to Cincinnati Insurance Co.
State and county investigators said Mr. Kuczaj defrauded commercial policyholders of more than $2.6 million and apparently made a personal profit of at least $1 million through the three-year scam. Investigators said Mr. Kuczaj falsified insurance policies, kept money he wasn't entitled to, and misled businesses into believing they had workers' compensation coverage when they did not.
Incident won't stop future street fests
Oktoberfest car crash victims still upbeat
Drought shrinks crops of autumn
Early end to drought unlikely
Suspect faces charges related to woman's death
Kids fare better in school experiment
The vanishing art of home economics
Airport to build garage with 1,550 spaces
Date set for trial in pair's slaying
Four hurt on balcony sue condo owners
Two indicted Monday in unrelated accidents
Mother of twins wrote the book on it
'Once and Again' is a fine show that doesn't happen often
Street fight is over
Who'll be the next Nitro Girl?
Blast may have started Clermont fire
Deerfield hires parks director
Hooker with HIV gets year in jail
Reading focus of reform effort at school
Woman charged in fatal crash
Bond raised for driver in crash that killed two
New Glendale police chief well-rounded
Null Log House restored
Oxford's Southard sets sights on Ohio House seat
Torrid development has Woodlawn folks bragging
Work on Hummer park to start soon
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