Deerfield robbery case closed

DEERFIELD TWP. - Police have closed an investigation into the township clerk's allegations that someone broke into a filing cabinet to get public records, finding that no criminal offense had been committed.

Clerk Kristin Spiekerman filed an incident report with the Warren County Sheriff's Office last week - shortly after questioning in a public meeting how township staffers had gotten financial records for a report.

According to the police report, Spiekerman told a detective that there was no forced entry into any office or the filing cabinet, and she believed a staff member used a key to access the records. While that staff member had authority to get some records, Spiekerman told police that the staff member did not have permission to access to the files in question.

The sheriff's office and Warren County Prosecutor's Office decided that no crime had occurred.

Robbers sought in home invasion

GREEN TWP. - A Green Township man escaped injury late Monday after four men broke into his home, held a gun to his head and ransacked his house.

The 27-year-old man was in his home in the 1300 block of LeMar Drive about 11:15 p.m. when the men kicked open a rear door, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies said Tuesday.

The victim was ordered to lie on the floor while one of the men held a gun to his head. Two of the men ransacked all three floors of the house.

They left after about 15 minutes, deputies said. The victim was not able to determine if anything was taken.

One man was described as 22-25 years old, 5-foot-9 with a large muscular build wearing dark clothing. He was armed with a small, black semi-automatic handgun.

A second is in his late 20s, 5-foot-7 with a medium build with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a red shirt and black pants.

The others are in their mid-20s.

Anyone with information is asked to contact sheriff's investigators at 825-1500 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

Toddler's death called accidental

HAMILTON - The death of a 2-year-old West Chester Township boy has been ruled an accidental drowning.

Shan Bhatti was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital Fairfield on Saturday after he was found floating face-down in a Liberty Township swimming pool.

The Butler County coroner, Dr. Richard P. Burkhardt, on Tuesday said he made the ruling after an autopsy Monday evening.

Butler County sheriff's investigators say the child had apparently wandered away from his parents, Narinder and Sukhbir Bhatti, who were visiting a neighboring home. Although a fence surrounds the pool, the child was found in the water under a solar blanket, a loose-fitting cover used to retain heat, authorities said.

A Butler County sheriff's spokesman said the incident remains under investigation.

Shooting suspect may get meds

HAMILTON - A Butler County judge has set a hearing for Mondayto consider whether a double-slaying suspect should be forced to take medication to treat his mental illness, possibly rendering him competent to stand trial in a death-penalty case.

Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth will hear testimony from a psychiatrist who is treating Tom West, 51, at a maximum-security mental hospital near Columbus. West's psychiatrists have sent the judge a request for an order allowing them to forcibly medicate West.

In June, Spaeth found West incompetent to stand trial on aggravated murder charges that carry a possible death sentence.

The charges stem from a Nov. 6 shooting spree at Watkins Motor Lines Inc. in West Chester Township. Two men were killed and two others were wounded.

Described as a drifter who was living out of his van, West formerly worked as a truck driver for Watkins' hub in Atlanta.

Colerain Twp. blazes investigated

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - Colerain Township fire officials continue to investigate four arsons that hit the community in three days last week. The fires caused more than $200,000 in damage, and two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling one of the blazes.

No suspects have been identified. Two fires were set Friday, one was set Saturday and a fourth was set on Sunday.

None of the buildings involved were homes, and no one was inside any of the structures when the fires were set.