Avondale man indicted in October killing

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted an 18-year-old Avondale man Wednesday on a charge of murder, accusing him of killing Carlos Manual in October.

Authorities say Lamont Levett and Manual were arguing over money in the parking lot of a convenience store at Forest Avenue and Vine Street in Avondale about 2 p.m. Oct. 19 when Levett pulled out a gun and fired repeatedly at Manual.

Manuel, 25, of Avondale, ran, jumping into the car of an unsuspecting motorist who had a small child in the back seat, according to Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen.

"As callous as it seems, this didn't deter (Levett) from firing the gun through the driver's-side window at the victim," Allen said.

Neither the driver or her son were hurt.

Police victims' estate records to be sealed

A Hamilton County Probate Court judge has sealed public records relating to the estates of Timothy D. Thomas and Michael D. Carpenter, whose families received seven-figure settlements from the city after they were shot and killed by Cincinnati police.

Judge James Cissell took the action Tuesday, saying sealing the record would protect the privacy of the two men's families - and especially their small children. Public disclosure of the size of each child's trust fund "satisfies only a voyeuristic interest," he said.

Cissell's order was in response to a Cincinnati Enquirer report in September that the Thomas family would get $1.5 million and the Carpenter family $1.6 million from the city settlements. A federal court had kept those amounts secret after the city paid $4.5 million last year in a "global settlement" with victims of excessive force.

Lawyers for the families, the city and the Fraternal Order of Police had all argued that the settlements should be kept secret.

Avondale leader found guilty in cable theft

A Hamilton County jury found the vice president of the Avondale Community Council guilty Wednesday of a felony charge of unauthorized use of property for rigging cable television to his house without paying for it.

The jury was unable to come to a verdict on a second charge of unauthorized use of property relating to Fulton Jefferson's bar in Over-the-Rhine.

Jefferson, 46, was arrested in October after police discovered the illegal cable hook-ups. Authorities said Time Warner Cable discovered the illegal service in September and disconnected it, only to find it reconnected during a check the following month.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker ordered Jefferson held in the Hamilton County Justice Center on $50,000 bail, pending sentencing Feb. 25.

Driver sought after approaching teenager

ELMWOOD PLACE - Police here are looking for a man who tried to entice a teenage girl into his car while she was waiting at a bus stop Wednesday.

The 15-year-old girl was waiting at a Queen City Metro stop at 5655 Vine St. about 10 a.m. when the man drove up and asked her to take a ride, said Elmwood Place Police Officer Brett Barnes.

The man told the girl that he knew her mother and he was supposed to take her to school.

He drove away as the girl went across the street to the convenience store to call for help, Barnes said.

The girl was not touched or injured.

Explosions at parks pursued by deputies

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - Authorities said Wednesday they were investigating two minor explosions at Anderson Township parks.

There were no reported injuries in the Saturday explosions. Hamilton County sheriff's deputies are looking for two suspects.

A pipe bomb was set off at Veterans Park at 8531 Forest Road about 7:35 p.m., causing minor damage to a vending machine, Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said.

About two hours later, a pipe bomb was detonated at Kellogg Park, 6710 Kellogg Ave. It destroyed two vending machines and damaged a concession building.

Fire damages home on Warren Co. farm

TURTLECREEK TWP. - Firefighters from three Warren County departments battled a fire Wednesday morning in a farmhouse at 6764 Nickel Road. No one was home when the fire broke out and there were no injuries.

The fire caused about $10,000 damage, primarily to the attic and roof, Turtlecreek Township Fire Chief Bill Stevens said.