Woman indicted in car meth-lab case


       HAMILTON — A Fairfield woman, whom police say they caught with parts of a methamphetamine lab in her car last month, has been indicted by a Butler County grand jury.

        Robyn S. Grooms, who turns 29 Sunday, faces charges of illegal manufacture of drugs and aggravated possession of drugs.

        In what authorities have called the county's first meth lab bust this year, Fairfield police say they stopped Ms. Grooms' Geo Metro in the 5800 block of Dixie Highway on June 7.

        Inside the vehicle, police say they found chemicals and tools used to make the powerful, addictive stimulant.

        Ms. Grooms was being held in the county's minimum-security jail Friday. The indictment against her was made public Thursday.
       

Police arrest suspects in Blockbuster robbery


        BLUE ASH — Police arrested three adults and a juvenile Friday in connection with a robbery June 18 at the Blockbuster Video store on Kenwood Road on June 18.

        Charged with aggravated robbery were Reginald Allen, 19, and Veronica Baker, 21, both of the 4200 block of South Avenue in Silverton; Adrian Lawson, 19, of the 5500 block of Ehrling Drive in Columbia Township, and a 17-year-old male juvenile.

        About 10:30 p.m. June 18, three men carrying handguns entered the Blockbuster Video in Blue Ash. There were about a dozen people inside or near the store during the theft, but no one was injured.
       

Cop's power restored after internal dispute


        A veteran Cincinnati police sergeant with a history of high-profile incidents temporarily lost his police powers this week.

        Sgt. Andre Smith's police powers were suspended, but had been reinstated by Thursday, officials said. The suspension came after the sergeant got into a dispute during an interview with the division's internal investigators.

        “He got his police powers back because the situation was resolved,” said Lt. Kurt Byrd, the division's spokesman. An investigation continues, he said.

        Sgt. Smith, on the force 14 years, has been in the news repeatedly, most recently after the riots in April for withdrawing from the police union and calling its president, Keith Fangman, an embarrassment. He has been interviewed by internal investigators for his involvement in a Nov. 8 shooting in Pleasant Ridge during which a suspected shoplifter took his gun away from him and shot another officer with it. A third officer shot and killed the suspected shoplifter.
       

Man charged with giving gun to boy, 16


        A North Fairmount man was indicted Friday for allegedly supplying the gun that was used to kill an ice cream truck driver during a robbery in the spring.

        Mike Solomon, 20, was charged with three counts — complicity to murder, complicity to aggravated robbery and improperly furnishing a firearm to a minor.

        Authorities say he gave 16-year-old Charles Roberts the gun used to kill Floyd Kilpatrick during a robbery March 23 in English Woods.

        Mr. Roberts, who faces one count each of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery, is scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday.

        If convicted, Mr. Solomon could be sentenced to at least 15 years in prison.
       

Police identify man killed in West End


        A 35-year-old man shot to death after a scuffle in a West End apartment has been identified as Anthony S. Beard.

        He is originally from Akron, but has lived in the Cincinnati area since 1998, according to police. Mr. Beard has no known local relatives.

        No one had been charged in the shooting as of Friday afternoon, and police were continuing to investigate.

        Cincinnati police said the shooting followed a confrontation between Mr. Beard and a male resident of a third-floor apartment at 1071 Baymiller Walk early Thursday.

        Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040 or Cincinnati police at 352-6465. Callers may remain anonymous and may be paid for their information.
       

Man convicted of burning his girlfriend


        Daniel J. Campbell, a Clifton Heights man, was convicted Friday of two counts of aggravated arson for dousing his girlfriend, Stacy Porter, 25, with lighter fluid and setting her on fire in February.

        The incident also set fire to her apartment in the 200 block of West McMillan Avenue.

        Ms. Porter suffered third-degree burns to a third of her body.

        Mr. Campbell will be sentenced by Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker Aug. 6. He could receive up to 18 years in prison.

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