FAIRFIELD — A suspended police officer accused of sexual misconduct with a minor has been fired from the city's police department. Thomas Lucas, 35, was terminated Tuesday on charges of immoral conduct, insubordination, failure of good behavior and dishonesty, according to a letter from City Manager Art Pizzano that was hand delivered to Mr. Lucas Wednesday.

        Mr. Lucas, who had worked at the department since 1988, had been on paid leave since April 11.

        Allegations surfaced that he twice fondled a 14-year-old girl, once while he worked an off-duty assignment at an apartment complex and once at his Hamilton home, according to a city report.

        A grand jury in June declined to indict Mr. Lucas.

        He has a right to appeal the termination.

Amelia man arrested in kidnapping attempt

        An Amelia man accused of attacking a downtown Cincinnati shopper Tuesday unwittingly led police — with help from a bystander and bartender — directly to himself.

        Timothy Taggert, 42, faces charges of robbery and attempted kidnapping for allegedly grabbing the 50-year-old woman at 3 p.m., forcing her into her rented Buick Regal as it was parked near Fifth and Elm streets and trying to get in himself.

        With help from another bystander who screamed for help, the woman fought the man off by kicking him in the chest. He ran, and a bartender from a nearby hotel saw the man drop a bag, which would hold a lot of clues: Mr. Taggert's identification and credit card were inside.

        Cincinnati police got a warrant for his arrest and notified authorities in Amelia and Clermont County, who arrested Mr. Taggert on Wednesday.

Jury still out on whether man abused

        HAMILTON — A Butler County jury is expected to resume deliberations today in a case of alleged abuse of a mentally retarded man.

        Following about 7 1/2 hours of deliberations in the case of Timothy Lee Ivers, Common Pleas Judge H.J. Bressler sent the jury of seven men and five women home for the evening Wednesday.

        Mr. Ivers, 40, of Fairfield, is accused of felony patient abuse and misdemeanor assault. The charges carry a potential sentence of two years and fines totaling $6,000 if he's convicted.

        Mr. Ivers' first trial in April ended in a mistrial.

        The charges against him stem from a Jan. 23, 2001, incident at the

        Hamilton Center, a workshop where Mr. Ivers was a work trainer for people with developmental disabilities.

        A videotape shows Mr. Ivers taking a client of the center, Glenn Kidd, then 36, into a restroom, where an audiotape recorded what prosecutors say were “smacks” followed by Mr. Kidd “yelping in pain.”

        But defense lawyer Frank Schiavone said there was an innocuous explanation for the sounds: the pair accidentally falling over a chair that had been left in the restroom, coupled with noises Mr. Kidd makes to communicate since he cannot talk.

Columbus church hires ex-Symmes educator

        Bill Balzano, former headmaster of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in Symmes Township, has been appointed director of education for World Harvest Church in Columbus.

        Dr. Balzano will provide leadership for Harvest Preparatory School and World Harvest Bible College.

        Dr. Balzano resigned from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in March. He served 12 years there as headmaster.

Briefing on bids for ballpark construction

        Construction managers at Great American Ball Park will hold a meeting Tuesday to familiarize area contractors with Hamilton County's bid process and to tell them about many new contracts in the final construction phase that may be ideal for small, minority and women-owned business.

        The meeting will be at 5:30p.m. at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, 3458 Reading Road, Avondale.For information, call Sonya Walton at 946-8195.

Woman in critical condition after wreck

        LEBANON — A 22-year-old woman and a 6-year-old boy were flown by helicopter to Dayton hospitals Wednesday after an early afternoon crash at U.S. 42 and Monroe Road that injured four people.

        Police said witnesses told them that a station wagon, driven by Mary Black of the Lebanon area, ran a red light at 1:16 p.m. on U.S. 42 and broadsided the vehicle driven by Jessica Sandlin of Lebanon.

        Mrs. Sandlin was listed in critical condition Wednesday evening at Miami Valley Hospital. Her husband, Aaron, 25, was listed in fair condition at the same hospital. The boy, identified by firefighters as Mrs. Black's child, was in good condition at Dayton Children's Hospital. Mrs. Black was taken by ambulance to Bethesda North Hospital in Montgomery, where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

Hamilton names finance director

        HAMILTON — George Gordon was named Hamilton's finance director Wednesday.

        Mr. Gordon, the city's comptroller, has been the acting finance director for the past six months.

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