Ind. man gets 65 years in murder of ex-wife

LAWRENCEBURG - A Dearborn County man on Thursday was sentenced to 65 years in prison - the maximum - for the 2002 murder of his ex-wife.

Roger Holbrook last month was found guilty in the murder of Barbara Holbrook.

She had obtained a protection order against him and a hearing on the order was scheduled for the day after the murder.

Barbara Holbrook was shot eight times as she attempted to flee, Prosecutor Sally Blankenship said. The final shot into the back of the victim was fired while she was face down.

Holbrook, who had been on the run, was arrested last year after being featured on an episode of the America's Most Wanted television program and identified by a viewer in Byrdstown, Tenn. Holbrook had dyed his hair and was using a false name.

Officer on leave as teen arrest investigated

FOREST PARK - Police are conducting an internal investigation on a police officer over an arrest two weeks ago of a teenage boy who was taken to the juvenile detention center on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Police did not release details on the investigation of Officer Todd Halusek, who has been placed on administrative leave, standard procedure for the department. But the mother of the 17-year-old said her son was assaulted by the officer on March 25 after the handcuffed and shackled boy argued with the officer.

The mother, Nina Cook, said she is filing a formal complaint with the police department.

Dispatchers with Forest Park police said Thursday that Chief Kenneth D. Hughes, who will hold a press conference this morning in the Forest Park Council Chambers, was unavailable for comment.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office also will conduct an independent review of the case.

Police use Taser on potential jumper

DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati police said an officer's use of a Taser saved a man's life Thursday.

Just before 2:30 a.m., officers were called to the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge on a call of a man who was preparing to jump into the Ohio River.

Officers offered him a cigarette, tossing it far enough away from him on the ground that he had to step away from the ledge to get it.

When he did, officers shot him several times with a Taser, which administers a high-voltage electrical current that temporarily disables a suspect.

The man was taken to University Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Use of the Taser got him the "help he needs," Lt. Don Luck said, "and probably saved his life."

Truck hits overpass; I-71 traffic stalled

SYCAMORE TWP. - Nobody was injured, but traffic on southbound Interstate 71 was stalled for about an hour Thursday afternoon after a load on a tractor-trailer struck the Montgomery Road overpass in the southbound lanes and the truck lost part of its load, which struck four other vehicles.

Police said they cited driver Gregory Ingram, 28, of New Carlisle, for operating a motor vehicle that exceeded the maximum height allowed.

The overpass sustained minor damage.