Two in custody after University Heights standoff

Cincinnati police and a special weapons and tactics team surrounded a house in the 600 block of Straight Street in University Heights early today after neighbors reported shots fired.

When police arrived, they noticed several adults and a child inside and called for the SWAT team. Chief Tom Streicher said the SWAT team made phone contact and a man surrendered.

Phone contact was made with a distraught woman inside who said another man also was inside the house. After negotiations, a second man surrendered about 1 a.m., Streicher said.

When police entered the house, Streicher said, they found the woman, who had suffered facial injuries, and a child. The woman was taken to a hospital; the child was unhurt.

Police found a handgun and drugs inside, Streicher said.

He said the two men were in custody, but what they might be charged with was not yet clear.

Kennedy Heights man gets life sentence in slaying

A 25-year-old Kennedy Heights man convicted in the city's first slaying this year was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.

Pele Bradford will be eligible for parole in 24 years.

A Hamilton County jury convicted Bradford of chasing David Brown, 29, of Mount Airy down Liberty Street on Jan. 2 and shooting him to death because Brown was talking to his girlfriend.

Bradford asked for a new trial, saying the jurors were prejudiced against him. But the judge refused it.

Bradford is appealing his sentence.

Man wounded in shooting drives to fire station

KENNEDY HEIGHTS - A man drove himself to a fire station after he was shot Tuesday morning. He was taken from there to University Hospital for treatment.

The man's name and condition were not released, but Cincinnati police dispatch records indicate that his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Autozone store at 6629 Montgomery Road in Kennedy Heights about 11:55 a.m.

Thieves use forklift to steal lawn-care firm's tractors

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Thieves used a forklift and wheelbarrow from a lawn-care business to steal several expensive lawn tractors and planting material overnight Sunday, police said.

"We couldn't believe it," B&B Lawn Care co-owner Lana Hubbard said. "The worst part of it is they used our own equipment. That's sick."

Police believe there were at least two thieves who used fencing and packing crates to hide their activities from passersby. They took one fence apart and cut another to enter B&B Lawn Care's property at 8419 Cincinnati-Columbus Road.

At least seven new, crated tractors were stolen and two were badly damaged, said Hubbard. As many as 12 tractors may have been stolen.The tractors cost between $3,000 and $9,000 each.