Ohio State Highway Patrol "Contributing to a Safer Ohio"

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be conducting an OVI checkpoint in Stark County this week.

Ohio man charged with Impersonating a Police Officer

An Ohio man is facing charges for impersonating a police officer after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers received notice of a false traffic stop. Troopers initiated an investigation and were able to identify the suspect as David Rogers, 28, of Mansfield.

On March 29, 2012, Rogers stopped a 17-year-old male on State Route 314, north of the City of Ontario. He was driving a vehicle with red and blue flashing lights, identified himself as a police officer and then made the juvenile call his father and continued to speak with the father on the phone as a police officer. Several days later, the juvenile observed the suspect and the vehicle he was driving, obtained the license plate number and reported the incident to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Rogers is scheduled to appear in Mansfield Municipal Court on May 25.

Media Availability - Patrol rolling out new program “Truck Shield” this Memorial Day Weekend

As part of the kick-off to the summer travel season, the Ohio State Highway Patrol in conjunction with Ohio Trucking Association has developed Truck Shield, a training program designed specifically for truck drivers.

Editor’s Note: Media attending the event should continue west past the Southwest Blvd. entrance to the intersection of Demorset Rd. Turn right (north) onto Demorset Rd. and enter the complex to the right.

Troopers seize pills and liquid codeine in Auglaize County

A Michigan man is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 202 Hydrocodone pills, 100 Ecstasy pills and 62.5 ounces of liquid codeine, worth nearly $12,000, following a traffic stop in Auglaize County. Troopers stopped a 2002 Ford Taurus, with Michigan registration, for a marked lanes violation on Interstate 75 southbound, near milepost 107, at 4:03 a.m. on May 22. more

The Mid-Ohio School to receive Patrol’s Partners for Safety Award

The Mid-Ohio School received the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s 2011 Partners for Safety Award today during the Morrow County Click-it or Ticket event. Presenting the Award at The Mid-Ohio School to President Craig Rust and Director Steve Bidlack was Captain Patrick Vessels, Commander of the Patrol’s Columbus District and S/Lt. Chad McGinty, former post commander of the Mt. Gilead Post and current legislative liaison for the Patrol.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Partners for Safety Award recognizes local level partnerships that help in the development of state and local programs to increase the overall safety on Ohio roadways. The Patrol established the Award in 2005 to recognize private sector organizations that take an active role in promoting traffic safety initiatives. more

Patrol focuses on motorcycle safety and enforcement

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and the Patrol would like to remind motorists that there will be an increase in motorcycles on the roadways with the warmer weather and to remind motorcyclists to ride trained and to ride sober.

From 2009 – 2011 motorcycle-involved crashes resulted in a total of 503 fatalities and over 11,400 injuries in the state of Ohio. In 2011 alone there were 167 motorcycle-related fatalities. Of the 167 fatalities, the motorcyclist was at fault 70 percent of the time. more

Recent Criminal Patrol Activity and Investigations

May 19, 2012

An Ohio man is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized more than 460 grams of marijuana valued at more than $2,300 following a stop during an OVI checkpoint in Hamilton County on Harrison Avenue in the city of Cincinnati at 9:34 p.m. on May 19. Troopers stopped a 2012 Nissan Altima and observed a small baggie of marijuana in plain view in the center console of the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed the larger amount of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. The driver, Brian K. Mallory, 30, of Cincinnati, was charged with possession of marijuana, a fifth-degree felony. The suspect was incarcerated in the Hamilton County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison and up to a $2,500 fine.

May 17, 2012

After a two-day jury trial in Fairfield County Common Pleas Court, Inmate Steven Matthews, 41, was found guilty on two counts of assault on a corrections officer, both fifth-degree felonies, and two-counts of retaliation, both third-degree felonies. These charges stem from a November 2011 incident when Matthews assaulted two Correction Officers.

Inmate Matthews is currently incarcerated at the Southeastern Correctional Institution for convictions out of Franklin County for felonious assault and taking the identity of another.

May 16, 2012

Troopers stopped a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pulling a U-Haul trailer for a window tint violation on Interstate 71, northbound, near milepost 205 on May 16 at 1:07 p.m. Criminal indicators were observed and further investigation revealed the occupants were in possession of merchandise that was purchased fraudulently from Lowe’s stores in Centerville and Huber Heights, Ohio. The stolen merchandise has a retail value of more than $7,000.

The occupants Christian D. Jones, 26, and Shawnell Byrd, 38, both from Garfield Heights, and Andrew D. Howard, 54, of Cleveland, were charged with receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony.

Further investigation revealed that additional purchases had been made in the same fraudulent  manner from the Centerville Lowe’s on May 8, 2012, with a merchandise value of more than $3,100.

May 10, 2012

An Ohio man is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized a 20 gram mixture of heroin and cocaine, valued at more than $2,300, as well as a loaded .45 Glock semi-automatic handgun following a traffic stop in Clark County. Troopers stopped a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant for a marked lanes violation on Interstate 70 eastbound, near milepost 62, at 1:18 p.m. on May 10. Criminal indicators were observed and a drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probabl e cause search revealed the mixture of heroin and cocaine, as well as the loaded gun. The driver, Kenneth Mitchell, 54, of Dayton, was charged with possession of heroin/cocaine, a second-degree felony, carrying a concealed weapon, a fourth-degree felony and possessing a weapon under disability, a third-degree felony. The suspect was incarcerated in the Clary County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to fourteen and a half years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.

May 6, 2012

Two men are facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 17.6 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, worth more than $112,000, following a traffic stop on Interstate 75. Troopers stopped a 2004 Mercury Marauder for speed and marked lanes violations on Interstate 75, near milepost 93, at 12:25 a.m. on May 6. Troopers observed criminal indicators and an odor of raw marijuana when detected. A probable cause search revealed 17.6 pounds of marijuana in vacuum sealed packages in the trunk. more