Compiled from staff and wire reports

Teen hit, killed by CSX train

WOODLAWN - An 18 year-old Lincoln Heights man was hit and killed by a CSX train about 10:00 a.m. Tuesday while walking on the tracks near the Lincoln Heights Baptist Church.

Woodlawn Police Sgt. James Ohl said police and fire units were called to the scene shortly after 10, near where Marion Avenue crosses the tracks in Woodlawn.

"We understand that the conductor saw this person walking on the track and started blowing his horn,'' Sgt. Ohl said. "The conductor continued to blow the horn, but it appeared that the person did not hear it. He could not stop the train.''

The man was identified as James Brown, no address given. Sgt. Ohl said Brown was dragged about 1,500 feet after the train hit him.

He was taken to University Hospital Medical Center, where he died.

Man indicted in near-strangling

LEBANON - A 32-year-old Franklin man was indicted Tuesday on charges of attempted murder, felonious assault and domestic violence in the Jan. 4 near-strangling of his live-in girlfriend.

James R. Daley, who has a history of arrests for domestic violence, burglary and assault, remained in the Warren County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail and on a holder for violating parole.

Franklin Detective Doug Hickey said Daley is accused of choking Beth Shelton, 22, at her Stanton Street apartment until she passed out. Shelton regained consciousness and escaped as her mother was arriving to check on her that night, Hickey said.

He said the couple had been together since October, and had spent much of the day arguing. "It was stated that she had disrespected him," Hickey said.

Mr. Daley was convicted of misdemeanor assault involving the 1999 beating of Melvin R. Young, 31. Daley was among a gang of four to six men who chased Young on his bike and beat him after he was seen slashing the tires of two cars in front of a Franklin bar. The coroner determined that Young died instantly from an aneurysm and fell off his bike before the men pounced on him.

Middletown funeral home hit by thieves

MIDDLETOWN - Thieves broke into the McCoy-Leffler Breitenbach Funeral Home and took three oatmeal pie snacks, valued at $3, along with other items - a guitar, a computer and a glass case - valued at $2,800, a report filed Monday says.

Police followed two sets of footprints in the snow and found one of the oatmeal pie's wrappers, the report says. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday, said Lt. Don Owens, but a report says a container that held the oatmeal pies was being examined for fingerprints.

Police search for masked robber

MIDDLETOWN - Police are looking for a masked man who may be responsible for a number of robberies near the Dayton Mall.

Detective Tom Lawson on Tuesday said a white male with bright green eyes, 5-feet-11, wearing black gloves and a "cheap"-looking black suede jacket and a baggy black ski mask robbed the BP Oil Co. at 4311 Grand Ave. on Saturday.

The robber, who got away with about $160, showed a weapon but the 19-year-old clerk wasn't sure whether it was real or a toy, Detective Lawson said.

The robber fled on foot; police say they think he parked a getaway car several blocks away. Officers followed his footprints in the snow but lost his trail, a police report says.

The robber and his method of operation are similar to those reported in robberies of other gas stations and convenience stores near the Dayton Mall, about 20 miles north of Middletown, Detective Lawson said. .

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Lawson at (513) 425-7741.

Teen sentenced for gun at school

BETHEL - A 17-year-old student at Bethel-Tate Senior High School was sentenced to 90 days in Clermont County juvenile detention Tuesday after he was convicted of bringing a gun to school.

The incident occurred last month when sheriff's deputies discovered an unloaded and inoperable 7.65 mm semiautomatic Mauser and .22-caliber ammunition underneath the front seat of the teen's car.

The boy is not being identified because he was charged as a juvenile. Police were called about 9 p.m. Jan. 7 after students told school personnel the teen planned to shoot another Bethel -Tate student and was in possession of a gun.

He was also convicted of inducing panic, officials said.