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December 2006

SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN INDIAN HILL

12/30/06: Indian Hill rangers are calling a late afternoon house fire suspicious. The fire broke out in a home on Holly Hill Lane at Park Road around 4 p.m. Firefighters say the fire spread quickly through the garage and flames could be seen leaping from the roof of the house. No one was home and nobody was hurt, but investigators say they found evidence indicating the fire was suspicious. "The investigation showed that a possible result of a burglary of the residence or a break-in of the residence," said Lieutenant Tim Oliverio, of the Indian Hill Rangers. "We do have a suspect in custody and he's being questioned." Firefighters from four different departments fought the two-alarm fire. (wcpo.com) Units: Second Alarm: Command:

FATAL CRASH ON SR 32 IN ANDERSON TOWNSHIP

12/28/06: The Hamilton County sheriff's office reports that one person was killed in an Anderson Township crash Thursday afternoon. Police say around 3:09 p.m., Kenis Reynolds, Jr., 45, of Cincinnati, was driving his 19990 Honda Civic eastbound in 8100 block of St. Rt. 32 when he went left of center on a road curve and into the path of a tractor-trailer. Police say Reynolds received fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer, John D. Carter, 49, of Middletown, was not injured in the crash, according to police. Police say that both drivers were wearing seatbelts and that neither alcohol or drugs were factors in the fatal crash. (wcpo.com) Units: Command:

HOUSE EXPLOSION IN COLERAIN TOWNSHIP

12/28/06: A Colerain Township man has been burned after a propane tank exploded at his Colerain Township home Thursday morning. The homeowner - his name has not been released - was working at his Redford Drive home to repair a leak in his 40 pound propane tank when the explosion happened around 6 a.m. The explosion burned the man on his hand and face and caused "severe structural damage" to the home, according to police. The tank is used to power the home's fireplace. Police said the tank was hooked up to a ventless fireplace. When the man tried to find a leak, the apparatus apparently exploded. A woman also inside at the time of the explosion was not hurt. (wcpo.com) Units: Command:

SEASON GREETINGS EVERYONE (BE SAFE)

MONTGOMERY SERVICE DEPARTMENT DAMAGED BY FIRE

12/27/06: Quint and Engine 73 responded to a police request for a structure fire at the Montgomery Service Department on Cornell Rd at 0537 hours. The police on the scene indicated that some of the windows were cracked and stained. They opened the front door to the office area and heavy smoke was visible. The fire was located in the break room and was extinguished. An additional engine was requested from Blue Ash to assist initially. After the police update the second alarm was requested. Some how we ended up with a third alarm, which was cancelled. No injuries and dollar loss undetermined at this time. Units: Engines  13, 73     Ladders 73 Second Alarm: Engines 60, 88, 93     Ladder 93    Medic 56 (Warren Cnty) Command: 7301 (Wright)

57's RESPOND TO HEAD-ON CRASH AT KILBY RD AND HARRISON AVE

12/25/06: Hamilton County deputies are investigating whether wet roads contributed to a two car, head-on collision Christmas night. It happened in Harrison Township around 7 p.m. on Kilby Road near Harrison Avenue. Deputies say 74-year-old Frank Backscheider went left of center on Kilby Road near Harrison Avenue in his Mercury Grand Marquis and struck a Dodge Dakota driven by 17-year-old Justin Blanton. Emergency crews rushed Backscheider, Blanton and Blanton's passenger, Sara Merz, believed to be in her 20s, to University Hospital. All three are listed in stable condition. (wcpo.com) Units: Command:

RIDICULOUS: WAS HE HIGH WHILE RESPONDING ON DETAILS?

12/21/06: A New Miami firefighter is accused of using his fire department's money to buy heroin. Investigators say Justin Henley, a volunteer firefighter, came up with an elaborate scheme to get village cash for the drugs. The New Miami fire department is staffed by paid volunteers, and the police chief says for the last five years, Henley was one of those volunteers. Henley has recently resigned from the department and is accused of stealing three gas cards from the fire department. He and his friend Jacob Bolser would then allegedly use the village gas cards to fill up other people's cars. Those people would hand the duo cash that they'd then use to buy heroin. New Miami Police Chief Gary Vaughn says the two racked up $1,600 in gas charges on the village accounts over the last year. Officials say Henley basically turned himself in by calling police to report one the cards he stole was stolen from him, which led village leaders to start taking a closer look at the records. Henley is facing charges including theft in office, while Bolser is facing theft charges. Both men are out of jail Thursday night as they wait for their next court appearances. The New Miami fire chief had no comment on the charges and other volunteers didn't want to talk on camera. People who have known Henley his whole life are stunned that he'd be in this situation, and the village mayor says it's sad this has happened. He says now only supervisors have access to village credit cards. (wcpo.com)

CRASH WITH EJECTION ON LAWRENCEBURG ROAD IN WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP

12/18/06: A violent crash in Whitewater Township sent two teens to the hospital Monday morning. Deputies said the accident happened after a 16 year old driver lost control of his car on Lawrenceburg Road. The car hit an embankment, a tree, hit the embankment again, then flipped. The crash tossed a 17 year old female passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt, out of the car. The car stopped after sliding across the road into a guardrail. The driver was only slightly hurt. His passenger is currently at University Hospital with serious injuries. (Story: wcpo.com, Photo: S. Placke) Units: Special Call: Air Care Command:

96's RESPOND TO FATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON RIDDLE ROAD

12/18/06: A biker is dead and another hospitalized after a crash Sunday in Woodlawn. Jeff Williams died when another motorcycle crashed into the back of his bike on Riddle Road. Williams was pulling into his driveway and was just yards away from his front door when he was hit. The other motorcyclist, Johnny Stewart was flown to University Hospital and was last listed in stable condition. The two were reportedly friends and often rode together on nice days. (wcpo.com) Units: Special Call: Air Care Command:

HAMILTON COUNTY DEPUTY INJURED ON I-71 CRASH

12/17/06: A Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy is recovering after being injured on the job early Sunday morning. Deputy Jeffery Gilliland, 38, was injured while assisting a disabled bus on the shoulder of Northbound I-71, just south of Kenwood Road in Sycamore Township. Investigators said while Gilliland was inside his cruiser, an approaching car driven by Richard Bean, 22, of Lexington, Kentucky, ignored several stopped police cruisers and safety flares blocking the right lanes. Bean crashed into the back of the deputy's cruiser, also despite the fact that Gilliland's cruiser had its emergency lights on, police said. Police said Bean was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Police believe alcohol is a factor in the crash. Gilliland was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was listed in stable condition. Bean was not injured in the crash and refused medical treatment, police said. (wcpo.com) Units: Command:

LINCOLN HEIGHTS UNITS RESPOND TO BUILDING FIRE ON LOVE COURT

HARRISON & GCHMRU RESPOND TO DEARBORN COUNTY TANKER ROLL OVER

12/16/06: A large fuel clean-up was underway in Dearborn County Saturday after a tanker overturned on State Line Road. Police say it happened around 2:30 p.m. in the middle of an "S-curve" on the road. Police say 8,000 gallons of fuel spilled into a ditch. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries. Police did not say whether the spill posed any widespread environmental danger. The road was closed for cleanup until around 10 p.m. Saturday night. (wcpo.com) Units: Haz-Mat 57      GCHMRU

14' PYTHON STRANGLES OWNER TO DEATH IN CAMP DENNISON

8 YEAR OLD GIRL STRUCK IN PARKING LOT OF "SOCCER CITY" ON SPRINGDALE ROAD

12/16/06: An eight-year-old girl is in serious condition after police say she darted out in front of an SUV Saturday night. The accident took place in the "Soccer City" parking lot on Springdale Road in Colerain Township, just before 5 p.m. Emergency crews rushed the girl to Children's Hospital. The accident remains under investigation. (wcpo.com)

SHOOTING IN LINCOLN HEIGHTS DAMAGES POLICE CAR AND INJURES ONE ON MEDOSH AVE

12/14/06: Tri-state police are in the midst of sorting out the details of a Thursday morning incident involving gunfire, a police chase and at least one victim transported to the hospital. At this point, the Lincoln Heights police chief told 9News he knows of at least four locations involved in the overnight spree, including a one where a squad car's window was shot out. The police chief told 9News the office was shot at, thought not hit. Then, a man in a car took off, and police chased the car until it crashed in the 1100 block of Byrd Street. Next, the suspect ran and hid under a van, where a police dog found him and police said they arrested and took a gun from the suspect. In the meantime, as officers from across the Tri-state race came to assist the Lincoln Heights force, a Woodlawn police officer came across a shooting victim in the street at Medosh and Wayne. That victim is now at the hospital. There's no word on his name or condition. There are still quite a few questions including whether or not there is still yet another victim who went to the hospital on his own. And if there is still a shooter still out there - there's question as to whether it was ever fired, so there's a possibility there's a shooter still on the loose. (wcpo.com)

FATAL CRASH ON I-71 INVOLVES OFF-DUTY FIREFIGHTER

12/14/06: Police are continuing to investigate a fatal crash involving a Cincinnati firefighter on I-71 near downtown early Thursday morning. Cincinnati police say the victim, Lisa Kreutzer, 26, of Delhi Township, was driving northbound on I-71 near the Reading Road accident when she was struck by an off-duty firefighter, who was going the wrong way. Police say alcohol was a factor in the fatal crash which took place around 1:25 a.m. Police say Joseph Dance, 28, of Green Township, was given a field sobriety test but refused a breathalyzer test. Dance has been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Both drivers had passengers inside their vehicles. A Northern Kentucky life squad on its way to University Hospital stopped by the scene to assist. Police say Casey Auchello, 20, of Delhi Township was a passenger inside the victim's vehicle. Auchello was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police say he was treated and released. Kevin Davis, of Harrison, also a Cincinnati firefighter, was a passenger in Dance's vehicle. No word yet on the extent, if any, of Davis' injuries.9News has also learned that the victim and her passenger had been with friends at the UC-XU Crosstown Shootout and went to Covington's Main Strasse Village after the game. Police say at the time of the accident Kreutzer was driving her passenger back to his car at parked by the Baldwin Building at Humana off of the Reading Road exit. Police say they will treat Dance's case no differently than any other citizen's. If convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide, Dance will be terminated from his job as a Cincinnati firefighter.9News has learned that it has been confirmed that there had been a gathering of firefighters at the Game Day Cafe on Second Street, but it is unknown whether Dance was there Wednesday night. (wcpo.com)

GAS LEAK CLOSES MALL IN KENWOOD

FATAL FIRE ON MENOMINEE DRIVE IN COLERAIN TOWNSHIP

12/10/06: An early morning fire shook up a Colerain Township neighborhood. A man was killed and his wife narrowly escaped death. Firefighters tell 9News though that this was a tragedy that could easily have been avoided. For the Mueller's, their house on Menominee Drive in Colerain Township has always been home. But after a tragic fire claimed the life of Al Mueller, this home will never be the same. Neighbors can't believe the tragic loss. "I got woken up by some banging next door at 5 or 6 a.m.," said Eric Oehler, a neighbor. "I look out, and there's this fire truck. One of them is parked in my driveway. "Dispatchers responded to a silent 911 call from inside the house early Sunday morning. Before crews arrived, Mrs. Mueller jumped to safety from a rear bedroom window... She told police and firefighters that her husband was still inside. "We immediately entered the building and found Mr. Mueller at the top of the steps," said Captain Steve Conn, of the Colerain Township fire department, "where we removed him and started to resuscitate him in the front yard before transporting him. "Police put the fire on the second floor out with a garden hose, but it was too late. Emergency personnel say it was Mueller's wife who was alert enough to call 911 as the house filled with smoke. They estimate she only had moments before she herself could have been overwhelmed. They say a simple smoke detector may have given her the extra few moments she may have needed -- if only the Mueller's had one in their home. "Our initial report looks like there was no smoke alarms in the house," said Capt. Conn, "which would have alerted the occupants sooner, rather than have it get as advanced as it did. Their neighbor, Eric Oehler, says the tragedy of the Mueller's may help protect others. "It makes me think about getting one," said Oehler. "I don't have one here. I had a fire in my kitchen and the fire department told me to get one, 'cause I don't have them either." Fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. They estimate the damage at about $90,000. (wcpo.com) Units: Command: