Ohio State Highway Patrol "Contributing to a Safer Ohio"

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be conducting OVI checkpoints in Fairfield, Delaware, Hamilton, Licking, Franklin, Lorain, Portage, Mahoning, Miami, Butler, Guernsey and Auglaize counties this weekend.

May 18 is "All Out Day"

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be conducting an “All Out Day” on May 18, in which all sworn officers from all ranks will be patrolling Ohio roads in an effort to reduce fatal and injury crashes. The initiative, which serves as a high visibility enforcement effort, is not only a deterrent for crash causing violations, but also calls attention to dangerous driving behaviors.

With the onset of warm weather and an increase in fatalities, it is more important than ever to make sure motorists are keeping their eyes on the road, wearing their safety belts and never driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Troopers recover fraudulently purchased Lowe’s merchandise

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.

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

Multi-State effort focuses on impaired driving and drug interdiction on Interstate 70 / 75

The Ohio State Highway Patrol joined forces with Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Indiana State Police on Interstate 70 and 75 on May 3– 5, in an ongoing effort to combat drug trafficking and impaired driving. This multi-agency enforcement effort is part of the 6 State Trooper Project, which is aimed at providing combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services in the areas of highway safety, criminal patrol and intelligence sharing. more

Recent Criminal Patrol Activity and Investigations

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 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

May 4, 2012

A Michigan man is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 195 Xanax, 125 Methodone, 20 Hydrocodone, 2 Oxycodone pills, and 15 grams of marijuana, worth nearly $2,000, following a traffic stop in Auglaize County. Troopers stopped a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier for a following too closely violation on Interstate 75 southbound, near milepost 114, at 12:24 a.m. Troopers observed possible indicators of criminal activity and received consent to search the vehicle. The consent search revealed the prescription pills in a duffle bag on the floor of the vehicle. The driver, Brian Scott, 43, of Detroit, Mich., was charged with possession of schedule I substance, a third-degree felony, and possession of a schedule II substance, a fourth-degree felony. The suspect was incarcerated in the Auglaize County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to six and a half years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine.