Toledo to refund speeding fines to drivers
TOLEDO (AP) — Authorities say a police mistake has led to more than 100 people in Ohio having their speeding ticket fines refunded.
The Blade reports the refund applies to drivers who received a speeding ticket from a hand-held speed camera Feb. 1 near Byrnedale Elementary School in Toledo.
Police Chief George Kral says drivers were improperly ticketed due to a police mistake.
City Councilman Rob Ludeman says an officer was stationed inside the school zone, where the speed limit is lower, but his camera targeted vehicles outside of the zone, where the speed limit is higher. Ludeman says he and his wife both received an improper ticket.
Authorities say the 115 tickets issued would normally carry a $120 fine. People who already have paid the fine will receive a refund.
Women sent to prison for not reporting abuse
CANTON (AP) — An Ohio woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after prosecutors say she failed to report a child’s sexual abuse.
The Canton Repository reports 39-year-old Patricia Horton, of Canton, was sentenced Thursday. Horton had previously pleaded guilty to felony counts of child endangerment and obstruction of justice.
Donell Powell was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to counts of rape and gross sexual imposition. The alleged abuse involves a girl who was younger than 10 years old when it began in 2015.
Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Christy Donnelly says Horton was told of the abuse but failed to report or stop it. Court records show Horton also lied to police who were investigating.
Sheriff: Inmate falls from jail window
XENIA (AP) — Authorities say an inmate fell from a third-floor window at a southwestern Ohio jail apparently after breaking the cell window and climbing through it.
A release from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office says a city employee reported an inmate lying on the sidewalk outside of the jail in Xenia around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. The inmate was later identified as 38-year-old Bryan Goney. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of multiple fractures.
The sheriff’s release says a jury found Goney guilty in April on charges including robbery and kidnapping. Authorities say Goney was in jail awaiting final sentencing when he fell.
Sheriff’s officials say they are investigating to determine if Goney should face additional charges.
A message seeking comment was left at the office of Goney’s attorney.
Cleveland water department van slides into sinkhole
CLEVELAND (AP) — Officials say no one was injured when a city water department van slid into a sinkhole that opened up beneath it in Cleveland.
The Cleveland Division of Water says the van fell through the ground on the city’s east side on Thursday afternoon.
Officials say the water department employee wasn’t in the van. The water division had been called to the area to investigate a reported water leak. Cleveland police say the ground under the vehicle may have given way due to a water main break.
Two tow trucks later pulled the van from the sinkhole.
The street was closed for repairs and crews were working to restore water to the area.
Motorcyclist clotheslined by low-hanging wire
FAIRLAWN (AP) — Police say a 63-year-old motorcyclist is lucky to be alive after being clotheslined by a low-hanging wire.
WEWS-TV reportsthe man was pulled off his bike in northeast Ohio’s Bath Township on Wednesday yet walked away with only minor injuries.
The man told a 911 operator he felt a “rope burn” on his neck.
Police say the afternoon sun and shadows might have made it difficult for him see the black cable line owned by a communications company. The road’s speed limit is 45 mph.
Bath Township Police Chief Mike McNeely says it’s amazing the man wasn’t seriously hurt.
McNeely says the line likely drooped down shortly before the man drove into it because there hadn’t been any previous reports about the line on the heavily traveled road.
