Officer suspended; violent acts alleged

A Cincinnati officer was placed on desk duty Thursday and stripped of his police powers after another arrest for domestic violence.

Officer Darius Brannon, on the force nine years, went to jail Wednesday night after his wife, Darlene, told police he threw her cell phone down the street and kicked her in the back. She asked for a temporary restraining order.

Officer Brannon, 35, of College Hill, was charged with domestic violence and disorderly conduct while intoxicated. Officer Brannon was acquitted in 2001 on a domestic violence charge filed after his wife told police he'd hit his 14-year-old stepson.

Cruiser hit at earlier crash scene

ANDERSON TWP. - Hamilton County sheriff's deputies are investigating two separate crashes on Interstate 275 near Five Mile Road early Thursday.

James K. Kuntz, 46, of Bethel, was airlifted to University Hospital, where he was treated and released. His 14-year-old daughter was transported to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her condition was not released.

Deputies say Mr. Kuntz was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer south on I-275 about 1 a.m. when he lost control, went off the right side of the roadway and overturned, with the vehicle coming to rest on its top. Mr. Kuntz was charged with failure to control, driving under the influence, endangering children and violating a protection order.

About 90 minutes later, a sheriff's cruiser blocking the right lane at the crash site was struck by a 1999 Ford F-350 pick-up. A deputy jumped out of the cruiser just before it was hit.

The driver, Jason Cope, 22, of Cincinnati, drove off after hitting the cruiser and exited onto Five Mile, where he was stopped by deputies. He was charged with failure to maintain an assured clear distance, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an auto crash.

Gambler's wife sues Argosy Casino

A Forest Park woman sued Argosy Casino in federal court Thursday, saying officials on the Lawrenceburg riverboat have not stopped her husband from gambling.

Johnnie Brown claimed that two years ago she asked the casino to bar her compulsive gambler husband, but the casino refused because he was of legal age.

Ms.Brown said her husband gambled away as much as $80,000 in the past four years, leaving them with no money to pay bills or buy food.

Ms. Brown said she has suffered a heart attack and stroke because of stress related to her husband's gambling.

Her suit, filed in New Albany, Ind., asks for an injunction to prohibit the casino from allowing her husband to enter its premises, unspecified compensatory damages and attorney fees.

Vine St. arrests come in a series

Between 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and 3:15 a.m. Thursday, Cincinnati police officers working in Over-the-Rhine took the three weapons from three men in separate incidents in one block of Vine Street:

The first, at 1344 Vine St., ended with Gregory Hinkston, 25, of Mount Auburn, arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a weapon under disability. At 9:01 p.m., officers charged Nethaniah Israd, 23, of University Heights, with having a loaded .25-caliber Raven semiautomatic pistol. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, illegally having a weapon and minor misdemeanor drug abuse.

Then at 3:15 a.m., officers said they spotted Ray Jackson, 22, of the West End, selling crack at 1221 Vine St. Officers found a .22-caliber Taurus semiautomatic pistol under a car seat. Mr. Jackson was charged with possession of drugs and illegally having a weapon.

Indictment made in fatal shooting

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted a Cumminsville man Thursday on an aggravated murder charge.

Ralph E. Smith, of the 1700 block of Elmore Avenue, is accused of shooting to death Darryl Jackson of Avondale.

On Oct. 6, at about 2:30 a.m., Mr. Jackson, 52, was found shot once in the neck on the sidewalk along Elmore Avenue, officials said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

If convicted as charged, Mr. Smith could face life in prison.

Robbery attempt outside eatery fails

GREEN TWP. - Hamilton County sheriff's deputies are searching for a man who tried to rob a Subway restaurant employee late Wednesday.

An employee of the Subway at 5469 North Bend Road was taking out trash at about 11:30 p.m. when she was accosted by a man who said he had a gun and demanded money. He did not display a gun.

The employee told the man she didn't have any money, and he walked away.

He was described as black, 18-20 years old, about 5-feet-8, 160-170 pounds, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, with a blue and white bandana across his face.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 825-1500 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

Compiled from staff and wire reports