Sunday, April 02, 2000
Accused robber now under indictment
An Avondale man accused of a brutal robbery that led to a fatal police shooting was indicted by a Hamilton County grand jury Thursday and could face more than 50 years in prison if convicted.
Tarrell Gross, 20, was indicted on three counts of aggravated robbery, three counts of felonious assault and a gun specification.
Bonnafay C. Thomas, 28, of Westwood, who is accused of allowing Mr. Gross to hide in her apartment, was charged with one count of obstruction of justice. She faces one to five years in prison if found guilty.
Cincinnati police arrested Mr. Gross on March 22 at Ms. Thomas' home in the 3400 block of McHenry Avenue. He was wanted in a March 14 incident that led to a fatal police shooting of Alfred Lamont Pope, 23, of Bond Hill.
Police say Mr. Pope and Mr. Gross pistol-whipped and robbed three people, including one who had eight gold caps pulled from his teeth, in a building hallway at 3362 Reading Road. Mr. Pope was shot and killed by three officers responding to the robbery call.
UC event matches job hunters, employers
More than 100 employers are expected to interview job candidates at the Bearcat Trackers Careerfest noon-9 p.m Wednesday in the Great Hall, Tangeman University Center, at the University of Cincinnati.
More than 1,000 students attended last year's Careerfest, said Nickie Drake, assistant director of UC's Career Development Center.
According to a recent survey of employers by Michigan State University, recruiting will be up 10 percent to 15 percent over last year, with manufacturing, financial services, construction and professional and technical service sectors leading in hiring.
Slot open on board of zoning appeals
UNION TOWNSHIP — Residents of this Butler County township interested in serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals may submit a letter of interest with any supporting information to: Judith A. Carter, assistant township administrator, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester 45069.
Trustees will appoint one member to fill a term effective immediately through Dec. 31, 2002. The deadline for submittal is Friday. For information call 777-4214.
Man arrested after sentencing no-show
Cincinnati police have arrested a 21-year-old Colerain Township man who failed to show up for sentencing last week.
Rayshawn Walker pleaded guilty in February to firing the shot that killed Jerric L. Anderson on Oct. 16.
Mr. Walker had pleaded to one count of voluntary manslaughter after Hamilton County prosecutors agreed to drop the more serious charge of murder. He was to have faced up to 15 years in prison when he returned to Common Pleas Court for sentencing Wednesday.
But he did not show up.
Prosecutors say Mr. Walker shot Mr. Anderson, 19, of Colerain Township, as he drove past the victim at 3 a.m. in the Skyline Acres subdivision.
They say Mr. Walker fired one shot from a .25-caliber handgun, striking Mr. Anderson in the chest.
The shooting occurred after a party in College Hill was held to raise money for a rap CD Mr. Anderson was recording with friends.
Mr. Walker was to have been sentenced Wednesday, but when he failed to show a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was declared a fugitive. He was arrested Friday.
Relatives had posted the $200,000 that allowed Mr. Walker to remain free several months after he had been apprehended.
Report faults police in fatal collision
COLUMBUS — An officer who chased a speeding car 15 miles before it crashed into another vehicle, killing a woman, should have ended the pursuit after traveling about half that distance, according to an internal police report.
Police Chief Gary Vest of suburban Powell on Friday issued the 60-page report, which said Officer Shannon Leary did not follow the department's pursuit policy and should have known better.
Officer Leary began chasing a car driven by Kim Coates, 39, about 2 a.m. March 13.
The chase ended when Mr. Coates, with police in pursuit, crashed into the other car at a downtown Columbus intersection, killing the driver, Queen Alahzar, 34.
Mr. Coates was indicted on charges including involuntary manslaughter, forgery, drunken driving and receiving stolen property. He remains in the Franklin County jail in lieu of $800,000 bail.
Memberships help to fund scholarships
HAMILTON — The Fort Hamilton Healthcare Corporation is conducting its annual membership campaign. The monies raised help fund the Health Care Assistance Program, which awards scholarships to students pursuing a career in the health care field.
Membership costs a minimum $2 donation. Individuals and organizations are welcome to join. Call: 867-2251.
Search fails to find body of businessman
BENTLEYVILLE, Pa. — Authorities and about 200 volunteers searched Saturday for the body of an Ohio businessman who a witness says was kidnapped, robbed and killed.
Police believe Ira Swearingen, 49, of Stout, Ohio, was killed Dec. 12 near an Interstate 70 exit in Bentleyville, about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh.
John Shaker, Alexander Martos, Gregory Modery and Robert Petrick have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Mr. Shaker has testified Mr. Swearingen was shot to death. Authorities have said they will go forward with a homicide case even if his body never is found.
“They said he fell off a steep embankment. That's about all of Washington County,” said Trooper Patrick Leary.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A group of Purdue University students entered the sixth day of a hunger strike Saturday, attempting to pressure the university to alter its stance on sweatshops.
For more than a year, members of Purdue Students Against Sweatshops have been working to ensure that Purdue clothing is made under humane working conditions. Six of the students stopped eating Monday, because Purdue President Steven C. Beering hasn't agreed to join the Worker Rights Consortium, an alliance with workers and human rights organizations that monitors factories for sweatshop conditions.
p8 No special audit for Vietnam Veterans
COLUMBUS , Ohio — The state auditor's office won't conduct a special audit of the Vietnam Veterans of America's Ohio chapter despite a request by a former board member of the veterans group.
Mitch Given, a spokesman with the state auditor's office, said Friday that a special audit committee determined there was no evidence of theft or abuse of public funds. by the group.
The state provides a subsidy to the organization, which is slightly more than half of the organization's total budget and provides financial assistance to needy Vietnam veterans.
The subsidy was $177,947 for fiscal 2000 and $170,000 for fiscal 1999.
Reds may already have won - at gate
Team comes first in Lindner era
Clinging to a glimmer of hope
Legislators told: Fix farm laws
Lung cancer lags as priority
Ohio likely battlefield for presidential race
Public schools show off their results
PBS encourages kids to read Between the Lions
98 degrees helps make the band
He's a high priest of technology
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Accused robber now under indictment
Builder wants Dayton to get a bigger share
Cards, letters ease Bob Braun's retirement
City tries again to get homes water
Covington principals reassigned
Covington schools head praised for initiatives
Festival organizers meet to avoid another Mardi Gras
Four communities get $50,000 grants
GET TO IT
Joseph Kowalewski, scientist, college dean, dies at 100
Lawsuit last straw for winless team
Lobbyists' side jobs prompting questions
Love of game built diamond
Mason backs tax abatement deck,20,1 Mitsubishi may expand
Pianist makes familiar tunes fresh
Protest criticizes health system
'Smallest chapel' was almost lost
Memories of the local report from Bombeck
Aiken for some help
Commandments bill facing fight
Thou shalt not expect miracle from Assembly
A life from which to take inspiration
