Compiled from staff and wire reports

Relatives charged with threatening

Cincinnati police have charged four members of a murder suspect's family, saying they threatened and assaulted a witness.

The four people are related to Lionel Grimes, arrested last week in the April 6 killing of Jeshawn Johnson, 18, an amateur boxer. Johnson was shot during a party on Beekman Street.

Charged with felony intimidation of a witness are Michelle Grimes, 22, and Shelly Grimes, 40, both of Westwood; Kwefi Grimes, 23, of Over-the-Rhine; and Yana Grimes, 33, of Mount Airy.

The witness told police, according to court documents, that Grimes' family members had been harassing her since her name surfaced as a witness in the killing.

Pair are indicted in ex-teacher's killing

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted two men Thursday in the killing of Major Wright, author and former Cincinnati Public Schools substitute teacher.

Willard Johnson, 20, and Harvey Elan, 18, addresses unknown, were each charged with special felony aggravated murder in the May 18 homicide. If convicted, they face up to life in prison.

Prosecutors say Wright, 55, died in a drug deal gone bad, and the two men shot him at his Westwood home.

The suspects are being held in the Hamilton County jail on $1 million bail each pending arraignment.

I-75 ramp at Paddock reopens to traffic

Drivers heading north on Interstate 75 can again exit at Paddock Road, with the construction that had shut down part of the interchange ending Thursday.

That was a few days ahead of schedule, which called for the ramp to be closed for 45 days, Ohio Department of Transportation officials said.

According to Dennis Stemler, resident Hamilton County engineer for ODOT, the entire interchange should be finished by November.

Man jailed for failure to report trash fire

DEERFIELD TWP. - A 21-year-old Deerfield Township man will serve a month in jail for failing to report the trash fire that burned down the Morand Building on Columbia Road in June.

Steve Garlic was convicted Wednesday in Mason Municipal Court after fire officials said he had firsthand knowledge of the fire. Garlic was fined and sentenced to 30 days in jail with five years of probation.

Police say the trash fire, which ignited the small strip center, was one of several that 21-year-old Derric Urton set as he walked home June 25 from a Landen bar. Urton's trial on arson charges is scheduled in October.

Chase ensues after prescription incident

MASON - City police were involved in a high-speed chase after investigating a woman suspected of trying to pass a false prescription at CVS Pharmacy, 5525 Parkside Drive.

Police chased a vehicle driven by Ann Mary Fronczek, a 24-year-old Youngstown resident, through downtown, where she pulled into a dentist's office lot and hit two cars. The chase continued to Main Street and Mason-Montgomery Road, where her vehicle crashed into a city fire engine.

Fronczek and her 4-year-old child, who was in the car, were taken to Bethesda North Hospital.

The incident and possible charges are under investigation.

Restaurant opens despite suspicious fire

SYMMES TWP. - Myra's Kabob Cafe, damaged by an arson fire in a strip center less than a week ago, reopened Thursday.

Owner Erum Ansari, who opened the Middle Eastern restaurant at 12082 Montgomery Road just more than a year ago, said reports that her business was destroyed were exaggerated.

She said damage was so minor that only a door, flooring and ceiling tiles needed to be replaced.

Fire officials said the suspicious blaze started at Domino's Pizza around 3:58 a.m. Saturday and gutted that restaurant, spreading to the strip center's two other shops. Besides Myra's, the You Guys hair salon sustained some damage.

Flying Pig donates backpacks to schools

Five hundred gift backpacks left over from previous marathons are being donated by the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon to the Over-the-Rhine Back to School Fair.

The fair will be 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdayat Rothenberg Preparatory School, 241 E. Clifton Ave.

Police say man shoots woman, then kills self

An Avondale man shot and critically wounded a woman before he led police on a chase and then killed himself Thursday.

Minika Monroe, 30, remained in critical condition at University Hospital. Police said she used to be in a relationship with the suspect, William Reed, 38.

Monroe was shot just after midnight as she sat in her car on Livingston Street in the West End. Police followed Reed as he fled, chasing him until he stopped at West Eighth Street and Elberon Avenue in Price Hill.

Officers said he shot himself in his car as they approached him.