Man charged with ethnic intimidation

PRICE HILL - The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission will be patrolling the neighborhood this weekend after a cross was placed on an African-American family's front lawn.

James Schmidt, 42, of Clifton Heights, turned himself in Friday and has been charged with ethnic intimidation, menacing and disorderly conduct.

He is accused of putting a gasoline-soaked wooden cross in front of a Ross Avenue home Thursday night.

The commission said in a news release Friday that it believes the incident was isolated.

Hartwell man charged in bank robbery

A man suspected in at least five area bank robberies was arrested Friday and charged in Cincinnati's first bank holdup this year.

Lamont Wilks, 32, of Hartwell, was charged with robbing a Provident Bank in Hartwell on Jan. 5. He's also a suspect in other recent robberies, including in North College Hill and Springfield Township, said Cincinnati Police Lt. Steve Kramer, commander of the Major Offenders Unit.

Wilks was arrested after North College Hill officers got a tip on his whereabouts.

Wilks was convicted of burglary in 1999 and placed on probation.

Bond Hill man indicted in shooting

A 23-year-old Bond Hill man was indicted Thursday by a Hamilton County grand jury, accused of killing Edmund Scott outside Checkers Bar in the Hampshire House Hotel in Springdale.

Andre Davis was charged with murder and illegally having a weapon in the Nov. 8 fatal shooting. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Police say about 400 people were in the bar on Tri-County Parkway about 2 a.m. when shots were fired outside.

Scott, 22, of Golf Manor, was killed. Another man was wounded.

Goshen Twp. man charged in arson

BATAVIA - A 50-year-old Goshen Township man was indicted Wednesday on arson charges after police said he set fire to his home.

Joe Schiffmanfaces charges of aggravated arson, arson, breaking and entering and tampering with evidence related to the Feb. 27 fire at his home in the 6900 block of Thompson Road. Authorities said Schiffman was angry with a mortgage company after it foreclosed on the property last fall.

No one was living at the home at the time, Damage was estimated at $50,000 to $60,000.

Schiffman remains jailed in Clermont County.