Man dead in crash in Clifton Heights

        Thomas Mercer, 65, of 5465 Ruddy Court, College Hill, died Friday in a head-on car crash in the 3500 block of Central Parkway in Clifton Heights.

        He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, April Loveless, 32, of Covington, was treated and released from University Hospital, Cincinnati Police said.

        According to officers, Ms. Loveless was northbound about 6 p.m. when she “failed to control” her car, crossed lanes into southbound traffic and crashed into Mr. Mercer's vehicle.

        No charges have been filed.

Barber shop warned not to harbor dealers

        An Avondale barber has been warned by his landlord, neighbors and police to watch the kinds of customers he welcomes.

        Lester Hankerson, 80, who has cut hair at Stag's on Burnet Avenue for three decades, got the official visit Friday. A representative of Downtown Property Management, which owns the building, told him he could be evicted if he allowed his shop to be a haven for drug dealers.

        Tom Jones, president of the Avondale Public Safety Task Force, said Saturday that suspected drug dealers run into the shop to avoid being caught by police.

        The group, with help from area businesses and institutions, raised about $12,000 to pay for extra police patrols along the strip that has long been a drug-dealing problem area.

Woman now charged in vehicular death

        Crystal R. Jefferson, 42, of Dalewood Place, Bond Hill, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 6 death of Shirley M. Beamon, 63, of Central Avenue, downtown.

       A vehicle driven by Ms. Jefferson ran a red light at Elm Street and West Central Parkway and struck a vehicle driven by Melvin Smith, 46, also of Central Avenue, whose passenger was Ms. Beamon.

        Ms. Beamon was taken to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. No one else was injured or charged.

Sheriff deputies seek gas station robber

        COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — Hamilton County sheriff's deputies need help finding the man who robbed a Speedway Gas Station early Saturday morning by giving clerks the impression that he was armed.

        The man — described as white, in his early 20s, 5 foot 7 and about 150 pounds — entered the station, 11620 Hamilton Ave., at 3:19 a.m. and demanded cash, said Steve Barnett, spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. The clerk feared that he was armed because the man kept his hand in his pocket, Mr. Barnett said.

        The man fled on foot ith an undisclosed amount of money. He wore a black coat, dark pants, yellow gloves and a tan or yellow bandanna covering his face below the eyes.

        To leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers, 352-3040, or the Sheriff's Patrol, 825-1500.

Suspect in robbery quickly apprehended

       Sidney Tompkins Jr., 50, of Over-the-Rhine, was arrested less than an hour after the robbery of the Cincinnati Central Credit Union of an undisclosed amount of money Friday morning.

        According to Cincinnati Police, Mr. Tompkins walked into the credit union at 1717 Western Ave., shortly after 9 a.m. and handed the teller a note that demanded money.

        “I have a metal piece,” he told her while patting his waist.

        Mr. Tompkins fled the bank and was arrested at his residence in the 500 block of Charlotte Avenue. All property was recovered.

        Mr. Tompkins is at Hamilton County Justice Center, facing an aggravated robbery charge.

Mayor Luken invokes walking police patrol

        Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, Acting City Manager Tim Riordan and Police Chief Tom Streicher will meet at 11 a.m. Monday at Vine and Mercer streets to announce the beginning of walking patrols through Over-the-Rhine.

        In addition, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Inc. and other city workers will conduct a daylong sweep through Over-the-Rhine to show they support the police department's efforts to heighten its presence in the neighborhood and strengthen relationships with community groups.

        As part of the sweep, the group will remove litter, address building code violations and advise residents about smoke detectors. Monday's sweep will be part of Cincinnati's “Big Sweep 2002,” which will bring these city services to every neighborhood in the city.

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