Ohio Highway Patrol Norwalk Post Investigating Fatal Crash
Clinton Township – The Ohio State Highway Patrol Norwalk Post is investigating a one vehicle traffic crash that occurred on March 23, 2025, at approximately 11:08 AM, on County Road 36 near Township Road 159 in Seneca County.
William John Sheeley, 78, of Tiffin, OH was driving a 2022 Ford Edge north on County Road 159 when he ran off road left, traveled through a field, struck a ditch, crossed County Road 36 and came to final rest. Mr. Sheeley was transported from the scene by Seneca County EMS to Tiffin Mercy Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased and the crash remains under investigation
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by Seneca County EMS, Clinton Township Fire Department, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, D and D Towing.
Search for Underage Victim of Human Trafficking Leads to Arrest of 2 Suspects
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Two Texas men suspected by law enforcement of human trafficking who traveled to central Ohio with four victims, including one juvenile, have been apprehended by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
On March 13, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force was contacted by the FBI’s Houston office and the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding the juvenile victim, who was believed to be in Columbus. The task force, along with the Columbus Division of Police’s PACT Unit, began working to locate the missing juvenile.
That evening, Timarrea Granderson, 27, of Cyprus, Texas, was taken into custody by law enforcement. One of the four victims was with Granderson when he was arrested.
Later that evening, Larry Hill, 26, of Houston, was taken into custody after he barricaded himself inside a Columbus residence on West Kanawha Avenue, where two more of the trafficking victims were found. The Columbus Police Division’s SWAT team and the Sharon Township Police Department aided in the apprehension.
The fourth victim was rescued at another location.
The victims, all Texas residents, are being provided services by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
Granderson and Hill were arrested and will face charges in Texas, including trafficking of a person and compelling prostitution of a minor. The men are awaiting extradition to Texas.
About the task force
The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the Columbus Division of Police and includes representatives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Marysville Police Department, Ohio State University Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.
The task force is organized under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. OOCIC’s seven human trafficking task forces encompass 25 Ohio counties and serve 53% of the state’s population. To report suspected human trafficking in Ohio:
Call (844) END-OHHT.
Text “ENDOHHT” to 847411.
Download the END OHHT app on Apple or Android devices.
Doomsday Clock Ticks to 89 Seconds to Midnight, Marking Highest-Ever Risk Level
January 28, 2025 – The Doomsday Clock now stands at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to signaling global catastrophe in its 78-year history, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board. The announcement was made today at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., warning of an unprecedented level of global risk.
The Doomsday Clock, established in 1947, was designed as a symbolic measure of how close humanity is to self-destruction due to existential threats, including nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies. The concept was introduced by Albert Einstein, Manhattan Project director J. Robert Oppenheimer, and scientists from the University of Chicago—many of whom played key roles in the development of the first atomic bomb. Initially set at seven minutes to midnight, the clock has been adjusted multiple times over the years, moving forward and backward in response to global events.
The furthest the minute hand has ever been from midnight was in 1991, when it was pushed back to 17 minutes amid nuclear disarmament efforts between then-U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. However, in recent years, escalating tensions, geopolitical instability, climate crises, and emerging threats such as biological and cyber warfare have brought the clock dangerously close to the midnight mark.
For nearly eight decades, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit media organization composed of world leaders, scientists, and Nobel laureates, has made the annual decision on the clock’s setting. In recent years, concerns have expanded beyond nuclear conflict to include climate change, artificial intelligence, and global pandemics—all of which continue to shape the ever-growing risks facing humanity.
COLUMBUS – According to provisional statistics, eight people were killed in seven crashes on Ohio’s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday, resulting in the fewest deaths since 2018, when seven people were killed. The five-day Thanksgiving reporting period began on Wednesday, November 27 at midnight and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 1.
Of the eight people killed, three were not wearing a safety belt and one crash involved impaired driving.
During the reporting period, troopers arrested 247 people for operating a vehicle while impaired. Troopers also issued 569 safety belt citations and 297 citations for distracted driving violations. Throughout the holiday reporting period, troopers assisted 1,638 motorists.
Ohio State Highway Patrol and Michigan State Police teaming up to sideline impaired driving during The Game
OHIO/MICHIGAN STATE LINE – The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Michigan State Police are teaming up to sideline impaired driving during The Game on Saturday. There is definitely a rivalry between the two states when it comes to Big Ten football, but there is no rivalry when it comes to removing impaired drivers from our roadways.
In an effort to reduce fatal and injury crashes and to help keep the roadways safe this Saturday, troopers from both states will be cracking down on impaired drivers.
“The best way to keep the roads safe during this weekend’s Ohio State vs. Michigan game is for all drivers to make safety a priority,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent. “Whether you’re cheering for Scarlet and Gray or Maize and Blue, safe driving habits are key. By following speed limits, properly wearing a safety belt and designating a sober driver, we can ensure everyone enjoys The Game safely and responsibly.”
Whether you are heading to Columbus this weekend, or hosting a party, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Make sure everyone has a safe and sober way to and from their destination, and do not serve alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age.
“There is absolutely no reason to drive impaired – ever,” said Colonel James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police. “Enjoy the game and the celebrations that come with it but please be responsible because lives depend on it. Protect yourself and others on the road by using a ride-share service or if driving, only drive sober, avoid distractions, and wear your seatbelt.”
No matter which team wins, you can be on the winning team by designating a sober driver or by making alternative transportation arrangements. Since The Game takes place in Columbus this year, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office is offering $20 Lyft rideshare credits across Ohio to curb impaired driving. The credits are made possible through a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Motorists are encouraged to safely dial #677 in Ohio or 911 in either state to report impaired drivers.
Jackson Township – The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Norwalk Post is investigating a one vehicle fatal traffic crash that was reported today, November 25, 2024 at approximately 11:54 AM. The crash occurred on Township Road 154 and Township Road 101, Jackson Township, Seneca County.
Stephen J. Hoover, age 64, of Fostoria, Ohio was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Trail Blazer west bound on Township Road 154. Mr. Hoover failed to yield to a stop sign at Township Road 101, traveled through the intersection and ran off the west edge of Township Road 101. Mr. Hoover’s vehicle went airborne, struck a yard and then a ditch. Mr. Hoover was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash and suffered fatal injuries.
It is unknown if alcohol and/ or drugs were a factor in the crash and the crash remains under investigation.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Seneca County Sheriffs Office, Kansas Fire Department, Seneca County Coroners Office and John’s Towing.
Children left unattended in running vehicles can lead to abductions, AMBER Alerts
COLUMBUS – The Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee is reminding Ohioans that leaving unattended children in running vehicles, even for a brief period of time, can result in stranger abductions requiring an AMBER Alert activation.
From 2021 through 2024, of the 48 total AMBER alert activations in Ohio initiated by either the Ohio State Highway Patrol or Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System, six involved children being left in stolen vehicles.
These six stranger abductions were all the result of individuals, whether they were parents, guardians or caretakers, leaving children in running vehicles while the adult entered places of business for short periods of time. Activities included picking up pizzas, getting items at gas stations and dropping off siblings at day care or preschool. Each incident led to AMBER Alert activations because children were left unattended in running vehicles.
Vehicle thieves seek out targets of opportunity and take advantage of otherwise careful individuals. Unfortunately, in their impulsive rush to capitalize on opportunities to steal vehicles, these thieves do not take care to determine what is inside the vehicle.
“It is not safe to leave children in vehicles regardless of whether the vehicle is running,” said Ohio State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Raines, who is a member of the Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee. “Even though the likelihood is low of having your vehicle stolen while left running with children in the vehicle, any inconvenience to the adult is not worth the risk.”
Entering into the holiday season, the Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee wants adults to consider their obligation to take simple precautions to ensure the well-being of the children in their care. Children should never be left in a vehicle unattended because, in addition to the risk of abduction, they can suffer heat or cold-related injuries, depending on the time of year.
The Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee is composed of representatives from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency; Ohio State Highway Patrol; Ohio Department of Transportation; Attorney General’s Office – BCI, Missing Persons Unit; State Emergency Communications Committee; Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association; Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police; Ohio Association of Broadcasters; a victim’s advocate; a community member and a representative from a local/regional AMBER plan.
Bloomville Village – The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a fatal UTV crash that occurred in Bloomville Village, Seneca County, on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 1:13 a.m. The crash occurred on College Street at its intersection with S. Prospect Street.
Jacob Maxhimer, a 22-year-old resident of Bloomville, Ohio was driving a 2020 CFMOTO ZFORCE 800 Trail westbound on College Street when he went off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle overturned, and Mr. Maxhimer who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and suffered fatal injuries at the scene.
Speed and alcohol use appear to be contributing factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Seneca County EMS, Bloom Township Fire Department, Seneca County Coroner’s Office and Wilcox Towing.
BCI and Dayton Police Partner to Review
Cold-Case Homicide of Three-War Veteran
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — At the request of the Dayton Police Department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting a cold case review of the unsolved 2009 homicide of 85-year-old Army Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) North Woodall, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
“The military has an ethos that you don’t leave a teammate behind,” AG Yost said. “We’re hoping on Veterans Day that someone remembers something — they heard something or saw something — and will reach out to help us get justice for this American hero.”
Woodall, a decorated veteran of World War II and the Vietnam and Korean wars, was killed on July 27, 2009, inside his home on Walton Avenue. Even though authorities collected fingerprints and DNA from the scene, the case went cold.
Fifteen years later, the Dayton Police Department, eager to do right by Woodall and his service to our country, is partnering with BCI’s Cold Case Unit to review the case.
DNA from the crime scene has been submitted to CODIS, the FBI’s national Combined DNA Index System, in hopes of finding a matching profile.
“All murders and deaths are tragedies, but this one in particular considering what Mr. Woodall had been through in his life, having served our country,” Dayton Police Maj. Brian Johns said. “Especially around Veterans Day, I would love to solve this case for Mr. Woodall, and for his family.”
Tips about this case can be called in to 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446) or reported here.
Vermilion – The Ohio State Highway Patrol Sandusky Post is investigating a serious injury crash that occurred on October 29, 2024, at approximately 10:35 PM on US 6 near mile marker 23 in Vermilion, Erie County.
Danny Elliott, 50, of Huron, Ohio, was driving a 1995 Dodge Ram with a malfunctioning passenger side door when he pulled out of the Patio Tavern Bar heading east on US 6. His passenger, Maxwell Patfield, 46, of Cleveland, Ohio, was not wearing a seat belt and fell out of the vehicle as they entered the roadway. Mr. Elliott drove over Mr. Patfield before stopping on the right side of the road.
Mr. Patfield was initially transported by Vermilion Township EMS to Firelands Hospital and later life-flighted to Cleveland Metro for his injuries.
The crash remains under investigation, with alcohol suspected as a contributing factor. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Vermilion Township EMS, and L&M Towing.
Joe Lyons •
March 23, 2025
