(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that the State has distributed one million fentanyl test strips in an initiative to combat the opioid crisis. The strips serve as crucial tools in harm reduction efforts, allowing users to test substances for the presence of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has been increasingly found laced in various street drugs, contributing significantly to overdose fatalities.
“By providing access to fentanyl test strips, we empower individuals to make informed decisions and potentially avert tragic consequences associated with opioid use,” said Governor DeWine.
Unintentional drug overdose fatalities among Ohio residents decreased by 5% in 2022, totaling 4,915 deaths, while nationwide there was a marginal 1% rise in overdose deaths during the same period. Fentanyl was involved in 81% of those deaths, often in combination with other drugs.
Since April 2023, RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have been working in cooperation to distribute fentanyl test strips. Numerous channels are being utilized, including county health departments, harm reduction organizations, colleges, law enforcement, Project DAWN sites, and local outreach programs, ensuring broad accessibility across the state.
Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) is a network of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution programs coordinated by the Ohio Department of Health. By the end of 2023, Project DAWN sites had ordered 795,300 fentanyl test strips.
This landmark distribution of fentanyl test strips aligns with Ohio’s broader initiative that includes providing wide access to the life-saving drug Naloxone. Naloxone, when administered during an opioid overdose (from heroin, fentanyl, or prescription pain medications), blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and quickly restores breathing.
In 2023, Project DAWN distributed 292,419 naloxone units. In addition, the State of Ohio has installed cabinets containing free doses of Naloxone on 48 public and private college and university campuses, and more than 130 cabinets at 65 rest areas across the state.
Ohioans can order free naloxone and fentanyl test strips to be delivered to their homes through the website http://www.naloxone.ohio.gov. For more information on resources related to harm reduction, visit recoveryohio.gov.
(CLEVELAND) — Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has been indicted on multiple state felony charges alleging misuse of campaign money and ethics violations – including one count that would permanently ban him from holding public office again in Ohio, Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
“This case seeks to hold Mr. Householder accountable for his actions under state law, and I expect that the results will permanently bar him from public service in Ohio,” Yost said. “State crimes have state penalties, and a conviction will ensure that there will be no more comebacks from the ‘Comeback Kid.’”
The state grand jury indictment, filed today in Cuyahoga County, accuses Householder, 64, of 10 felony charges:
One count of theft in office (F1)
Two counts of aggravated theft (F2)
One count of telecommunications fraud (F2)
One count of money laundering (F3)
Five counts of tampering with records (F3)
A conviction for theft in office would forever disqualify the Perry County resident from public office, public employment or a position of trust in the state. Householder was convicted on federal charges last year, but those convictions do not legally prevent him from running again for public office.
The state indictment alleges that Householder misused campaign funds to pay for his personal criminal defense in his federal case. In addition, he allegedly failed to accurately complete Joint Legislative Ethics Committee filings. Specifically, records show that he did not disclose fiduciary relationships, creditors and gifts – including those related to fraudulent activity surrounding House Bill 6, legislation that benefitted FirstEnergy.
Householder was found guilty in March, 2023, for crimes related to House Bill 6 and FirstEnergy and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He is appealing the sentence.
The state charges announced today were filed in Cuyahoga County, where the financial transactions in question allegedly occurred.
The indictment stems from an investigation by a task force organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, part of the Attorney General’s Office. The task force was created at the request of the prosecutor of Summit County, where FirstEnergy is headquartered. By Ohio law, the attorney general’s OOCIC task force cannot initiate an investigation without a request from a prosecutor.
Householder was most recently elected to the Ohio House in 2016 and assumed office in January 2017. He was elected House speaker in 2019, a role he held until his removal from the position in July 2020 after his federal indictment and arrest. Householder remained a state representative until June 16, 2021, when the House expelled him.
Indictments merely contain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.
The indictments were part of Attorney General’s continuing work to hold those responsible for the House Bill 6 scandal accountable and to save Ohioans significant taxpayer dollars. Through several civil court filings, Yost removed the ill-gotten gains from the corruption legislation, saving the state’s FirstEnergy customers nearly $2 billion over the life of HB6.
Here is a timeline of those efforts:
September 2020: Seeking to reverse the harm caused to Ohio, Yost files a civil lawsuit against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, FirstEnergy, FirstEnergy subsidiary Energy Harbor, and various accomplices.
November 2020: Yost moved to block HB6’s nuclear bailout, which would have taken $150 million a year from ratepayers to give to Energy Harbor.
December 2020: Yost’s request to prevent the bailout is granted by a judge.
January 2021: Yost files a motion to prevent the “decoupling rider,” which would have cost customers $700 million to $1 billion through 2029.
August 2021: A judge grants Yost’s request to freeze $8 million of Randazzo’s assets after Randazzo began transferring and selling properties. The ruling was later appealed and affirmed.
In August 2021, Yost sues former FirstEnergy CEO Jones and Randazzo, among others, seeking to recover the $4.3 million bribe that FirstEnergy has admitted paying Randazzo.
About OOCIC
The Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, established in 1986 within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, assists local law enforcement agencies in combatting organized crime and corrupt activities.
“Organized criminal activity” means any combination or conspiracy to engage in activity that constitutes “engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity;” any criminal activity that relates to the corruption of a public official or public servant; or any violation, combination of violations, or conspiracy to commit one or more violations related to drug trafficking, manufacturing and/or possession.
About OOCIC
The Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, established in 1986 within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, assists local law enforcement agencies in combatting organized crime and corrupt activities.
“Organized criminal activity” means any combination or conspiracy to engage in activity that constitutes “engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity;” any criminal activity that relates to the corruption of a public official or public servant; or any violation, combination of violations, or conspiracy to commit one or more violations related to drug trafficking, manufacturing and/or possession.
MADISON COUNTY – Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol filed two felony charges against a 27-year-old woman after she was found to be in possession of cocaine during a traffic stop in Madison County.
Around 1:30 p.m. on March 22, 2024, Troopers stopped a rented box truck, with out of state registration, traveling east on Interstate 70 for executing an unsafe lane change, following too closely to the vehicle ahead of it and for not using headlights while driving in the rain.
While troopers were interacting with the driver, she exhibited a high level of nervous behavior, provided an unusual travel story and they observed possible criminal items in the truck. A drug-sniffing canine also alerted to the vehicle, and during a search, troopers located 110 pounds of cocaine, wrapped in 50 individual packages, worth an estimated $1.75 million.
The suspect, 27-year-old Andrea I. Celaya Rodriguez, of Tucson, Arizona, was taken into custody and is being held at the Franklin County Jail. Celaya was charged with trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs, both of which are first-degree felonies. If convicted, Celaya Rodriguez could face up to 25 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine applauded a change made today to the state’s administrative rules that require emergency departments to report non-fatal drug overdoses to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) approved the addition of rule 3701-3-16 to the Ohio Administrative Code. The rule will take effect April 8.
“We must continue to work tirelessly to address the overdose crisis, to support those in recovery, and to encourage wellness to prevent addiction in the first place,” said Governor DeWine.
The new rule will give state officials a more accurate and current view of non-fatal overdoses in Ohio. It will enhance ODH’s ability to identify trends, including repeat overdoses, and could allow for faster identification of populations or geographic areas disproportionately affected by non-fatal overdoses.
In addition, this data will be valuable in helping determine strategies and allocation of resources such as referrals to treatment or distribution of naloxone and/or fentanyl test strips to help prevent overdoses, especially in these high-burden populations or areas.
“The purpose of this new rule is to improve the coordination of care for individuals who have previously experienced a drug overdose,” said RecoveryOhio Director Aimee Shadwick. “Studies show an elevated risk of death from overdose in individuals who had recently reported a non-fatal overdose. Adding this new reporting feature will provide healthcare professionals with additional tools available in real time.”
“We believe that having this new data will help us reduce the number of drug overdoses, lessen the burden on families and communities, and most importantly, save lives,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA.
Since taking office, Governor DeWine has placed a significant emphasis on curbing drug overdoses expanding naloxone accessibility by 42% since 2022. This proactive approach has yielded positive results, with the number of unintentional drug overdose fatalities among Ohio residents decreasing by 5% in 2022, totaling 4,915 deaths while nationwide there was a marginal 1% rise in overdose deaths during the same period.
RecoveryOhio provides access to naloxone at no cost. Visit naloxone.ohio.gov to order this lifesaving medicine.
(COLUMBUS) — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that the state has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a damage assessment on impacted homeowners, renters and businesses for the 11 Ohio counties impacted by the tornadic severe storms on March 14, 2024. Governor DeWine declared a state of emergency for Logan, Auglaize, Mercer, Darke, Miami, Union, Delaware, Licking, Hancock, Crawford and Richland counties on March 17, 2024.
Six FEMA damage assessment teams will be inspecting and assessing the damage in all 11 Ohio counties on Tuesday March 26. The purpose for the Individual Assistance (IA) Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) is to identify the type, and extent of disaster damages to homes and businesses and assess whether or not federal resources are needed to supplement local and state resources.
“Ohioans are resilient. When I toured the damage at Indian Lake, I heard over and over again from the residents I talked to about their resolve to rebuild. Having FEMA assess the damage is the next step in helping the affected communities recover,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
On the evening of Thursday, March 14th, a round of severe weather pushed through the state resulting in extensive damage across several counties. The storms ranged from EF-1 to EF-3 with wind speeds in excess of 150 mph in the largest tornadoes. Recovery efforts are ongoing, with state and local initiatives focusing on assisting storm survivors, debris removal, and long-term recovery.
Clinton Township – The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a train versus passenger car crash that occurred Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 2:29 PM on Township Road 15 south of State Route 18 in Clinton Township, Seneca County.
Richard L. Rochester, age 90, of Tiffin, was driving a tan 2000 Honda Odyssey minivan southbound on Township Road 15. Railroad tracks intersected the roadway and an eastbound CSX train was actively crossing. Mr. Rochester drove around the railroad crossing gate and struck the side of a train car.
Mr. Rochester was wearing his safety belt and sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. He was trapped inside the vehicle and was extricated by mechanical means.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton Township Fire Department, Tiffin Fire Department, Seneca County Coroner’s Office, and D&D Towing.
As Ohio cities turn “green” for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and our local partners are teaming up to remove impaired drivers from Ohio roadways. The effort is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign.
During the last five years, there were 216 impaired driving-related crashes on St. Patrick’s Day. Of those impaired driving-related crashes, there were 117 injuries and 11 fatal crashes that resulted in 14 deaths. Additionally, the Patrol made 417 OVI arrests on St. Patrick’s Day from 2019 to 2023.
“Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day irresponsibly can lead to tragedy,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “There’s no excuse to get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking, always designate a sober driver.”
“We encourage bars, restaurants and patrons work together to ensure a safe St. Patrick’s Day,” said Ohio Investigative Unit Senior Enforcement Commander Erik Lockhart. “Patrons can take proactive steps by designating a driver and not consuming an excessive amount of alcohol. We ask permit holders to educate their staff on recognizing signs of over serving and underage drinking to ensure safety.”
As always, motorists are encouraged to safely call #677 to report unsafe or impaired drivers on Ohio roadways.
“How are you going to know what the government is doing if you don’t have transparency…”
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today released the 2024 edition of the Sunshine Laws Manual, which has been made more user-friendly and expanded to include a new chapter on law enforcement records.
The manual, affectionately known as the “Yellow Book,” is a guide to Ohio’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws – a resource designed to help Ohioans know their rights and public servants understand their obligations under the law. Because laws frequently change, the manual is continuously updated to ensure its relevance and accuracy.
“You can’t have government for the people, by the people and of the people if the people don’t know what their government is doing,” Yost said. “Transparency is the bedrock of accountability, trust and democracy. Without transparency, citizens cannot fully participate in their democracy or hold their leaders accountable.”
Sunshine Week, initiated in 2005, reinforces the principles of government openness that have been cherished since the time of our Founding Fathers. It is always observed during the week that includes the birth date (March 16) of James Madison, a leading advocate for government openness.
The new chapter in the manual stems from big changes in the law in recent years. Included are exemptions that apply to law enforcement records, as well as issues and exemptions specific to law enforcement officers, crime victims and witnesses. Likewise, the chapter addresses new provisions in the Public Records Act on body-cam and dash-cam footage as well as recent updates to Marsy’s Law.
The 2024 manual is more user-friendly, with numerous links and hyperlinks added to provide direct access to the Ohio Revised Code, court rules, the Ohio Court of Claims, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, other public offices and more.
In addition, the free Sunshine Laws training offered statewide by AG Yost’s office has been updated and reformatted. Public officials (or their designated representative) must take this training at least once per elected term, but the sessions are also open to the public.
For local governments looking to create a public-records-request policy, Yost’s office provides this model policy.
Hear from AG Yost:
“We’re trying to walk the walk. For example when we do investigations…”
The Delaware Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on March 11, 2024 at approximately 1037 hours on US 36 at the intersection of Township Road 33 in Berkshire Township.
William C. Stewart, age 61, of Mount Vernon Ohio, was operating a gray 2002 Ford F-150 southbound on Township Road 33. Harjit Singh, age 41, of Greenwood Indiana, was operating a white 2019 Freightliner commercial semi westbound on US 36. Mr. Stewart failed to stop at the stop sign and struck the trailer of the commercial truck.
Mr. Stewart was transported by Delaware EMS to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. Mr. Singh did not sustain any injuries as a result of the crash.
Mr. Stewart and Mr. Singh were both wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The crash still remains under investigation.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County EMS, Ohio Department of Transportation and BST&G Fire and EMS.
Akron, Ohio – A short time ago, members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) along with the Akron Police Department, and agents from Ohio BCI recovered Sara Herrera, 1, and her mother, Maoly Toscano Hererra, 17. Additionally, Bayron Tejeda, 22, the father of the baby girl, was arrested.
Maoly Toscano Hererra
Early this morning, an Amber Alert was issued for both Sara Herrera and Maoly Toscano Herrera after they were taken from a foster home located in West Chester, Ohio. The suspect was believed to be Bayron Tejeda and a warrant for interference with custody was filed.
Members of the NOVFTF, Akron Police, and Ohio BCI were able to safely locate the two victims at a home in the 300 block of Gibbs Ave. in Akron. The suspect was arrested at the same location and will be held locally until he can be extradited back to West Chester.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Quick work by West Chester Police, the Missing Child Unit in Northern Ohio and the NOVFTF Akron Division along with a far-reaching Amber Alert system led to the safe recovery of these two victims. The Missing Child Unit of the USMS will continue to support any of our local departments when critically endangered missing children are involved.”
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.
Joe Lyons •
March 26, 2024
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that the State has distributed one million fentanyl test strips in an initiative to combat the opioid crisis. The strips serve as crucial tools in harm reduction efforts, allowing users to test substances for the presence of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has been increasingly found laced in various street drugs, contributing significantly to overdose fatalities.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine applauded a change made today to the state’s administrative rules that require emergency departments to report non-fatal drug overdoses to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
Clinton Township – The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a train versus passenger car crash that occurred Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 2:29 PM on Township Road 15 south of State Route 18 in Clinton Township, Seneca County.
As Ohio cities turn “green” for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and our local partners are teaming up to remove impaired drivers from Ohio roadways. The effort is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign.
The Delaware Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on March 11, 2024 at approximately 1037 hours on US 36 at the intersection of Township Road 33 in Berkshire Township.
Akron, Ohio – A short time ago, members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) along with the Akron Police Department, and agents from Ohio BCI recovered Sara Herrera, 1, and her mother, Maoly Toscano Hererra, 17. Additionally, Bayron Tejeda, 22, the father of the baby girl, was arrested.
Members of the NOVFTF, Akron Police, and Ohio BCI were able to safely locate the two victims at a home in the 300 block of Gibbs Ave. in Akron. The suspect was arrested at the same location and will be held locally until he can be extradited back to West Chester.