Rafael Martinez Age: 40
White / Male / 5’8” / 180lbs / Black Hair / Brown Eyes
Wanted by U.S Marshals Service, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for failure to register (F1) and a bond revocation for possession of fentanyl (F1) and failure to register (F1), and Adult Parole Authority for a parole violation for rape (F1).
Ties to the Cleveland.
Marquis Morris Age: 34
Black / Male / 6’0’’ / 165lbs / Black Hair / Brown Eyes
Wanted by the U.S Marshals Service and Richland County Sheriff’s Office for charge of felonious assault.
Ties to Mansfield area and Oxon Hill MD.
Derrick Taylor Age: 46
White / Male / 245 lbs. / Brown Hair / Brown Eyes
Wanted by the U.S Marshals and Richland County Sheriff’s office for felonious assault.
Ties to Mansfield, Ontario, Baltic, and Bucyrus OH.
Glen Pettry Age: 44
White / Male / 5’11” / 192 / Brown Hair / Blue Eyes
Wanted by the U.S Marshals Service and Richland County Sheriff’s Office for illegal conveyance of drugs.
Ties to the Mansfield area.
Reward money is available for information directly leading to an arrest. Anyone with information concerning any of these fugitives can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force office at 419-774-3565 or the tip line at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or you can send a web tip at the following webpage http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/index.html.
The NOVFTF Akron Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies:
United States Marshals Service, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Richland County Probation, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Bucyrus Police Department, Galion Police Department, Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Police Department, Loudonville Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Willard Police Department and Crestline Police Department.
****WARNING THE FOLLOWING VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT****
****VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED****
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office releases video of Officer involved Shooting, on Aug 5, 2023, at 7:56 p.m. in the 200 block of U.S. 250 East, in Rowsburg, Ohio.
Deputies responded to a call about a male with suicidal tendencies, having a firearm.
The video shows Deputies walking around the house, and seeing a male sitting in a lawn chair. The Deputies proceed to ask him his name and what was going on. The male threw down a cell phone.
At this point the Deputies saw the firearm, and commanded him not to pick it up!
Deputies tried to taser the suspect 3 times, to no avail.
The male later identified as Larry Dunham, age 63, raised one of the pistols up and fired twice at one of the Deputies. At that point two of the Deputies fired their service weapons multiple times, striking the male.
Deputies radioed, “Shots fired!” and Jeromesville EMS was dispatched.
The Sheriff’s Office called for assistance, and turned the investigation over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Ashland County Coroner’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol also responded. The Ashland County Coroner’s Offices transported the body to Lucas County for an autopsy.
The Mansfield Division of Police, Major Crimes Unit is actively searching for the suspects in the Aggravated Murder of one person and the Felonious Assault of three others.
On August 27, 2023, at 0224 hours, the Mansfield Division of Police responded to the area of 151 Blymyer Ave referencing a ShotSpotter activation. Officers arrived in the area and located four gunshot victims outside of a home. One victim was found to be deceased. The other three victims made their way to a local hospital.
The suspects had fled the scene in a dark-colored vehicle.
“We are asking for the help of the community in identifying the suspects in this
Homicide,” stated Lt. Robert Skropits.
Please contact Det. Ronee Swisher 419-755-9432 with any information about the
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on 08/24/23, at 06:23am from a female driver, who had her car washed off of County Road 1300.
The 911 call lasted over an hour, this is a few of the grueling moments of the call between the dispatcher and the victim.
All identifying information, including name, number etc. have been removed to protect the identity of the victim.
Thanks to the dispatcher who was able to keep her calm and reassure her that help was on the way, and to the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, who put themselves at risk to rescue this female.
In April of 2022, Detectives from the Ashland Police Division and the Ashland County Sheriffs Office assigned to the METRICH Enforcement Unit initiated a drug trafficking investigation in Ashland County. On April 7, 2022, a traffic stop resulted in two arrests, which led to a search warrant at 158 US 250 Polk, Ohio.
During the search, Detectives discovered evidence of Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) manufacturing. DMT is a Schedule I hallucinogenic drug of abuse. Detectives from the Mansfield METRICH office assisted in collecting the evidence. Investigators seized Dimethyltryptamine, evidence of drug trafficking, and a firearm. Stephen L. Messier, 40, of Polk, Ohio, was subsequently charged with drug-related offenses.
Messier was convicted in July 2023 of Illegal Manufacture of Drugs, Illegal Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs, Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, Aggravated Possession of Drugs, Having Weapons Under Disability, and Endangering Children. Judge David Stimpert of the Common Pleas Court of Ashland County sentenced Messier to a combined prison term of eleven (11) to fourteen (14) years.
The METRICH Enforcement Unit would like to thank the community for providing tips that helped lead to the successful completion of this case. We encourage all residents to continue to report suspected drug activity by calling the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or downloading the METRICH Enforcement Unit mobile app to submit a tip.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and Polk-Jackson-Perry Fire Department & EMS responded to Township Road 1275, just East of State Route 89, around 5:16 am yesterday morning.
A father and son were traveling westbound on Township Road 1275, unaware the culvert had washed away.
Both were able to escape the vehicle and the water with minor injuries.
Happiness is a dominant emotion for both Grace and I when we are at a nursing home, strange as that sounds and strange as it was. We didn’t go there to be happy any more than we did to learn about hope or fortitude or to think about courage and faith— but that’s what happened. This day we were blessed with tremendous leadership and a devoted staff.
When Grace is at “work,” she brings a lightness and easiness that seems to expand outward and encompasses almost everyone she encounters. We often talk about getting out of our comfort zone, but Grace does not see a debilitating illness or lack of privacy or bodily fluids, so she just jumps into anyone’s comfort zone. Which happened!
A dog and her human are like a pair of dance partners, able to anticipate each other’s moves and read body language, and pick up on the most subtle cues.
We found the room of a lovely lady, whom we will call Ruth. Her nurse and family member said that Ruth had been unresponsive for four days. They assumed she was ready to meet Jesus. I picked up Grace and gently laid her on the bed close to Ruth. Nothing. Not even a flutter of her closed eyelids. Then I took Ruth’s arm out from under the sheet and blanket and placed her hand on Grace’s chest. Ruth’s eyes shot open, bright, and clear and happy and she said, “Hey, Hey!” Then one second later her eyes closed. Unresponsive again.
Nothing in my life had prepared me for this simple act. What was I supposed to do? I spoke with the nurse and family member, “Did you see what I just saw?” It seemed that Ruth just saw heaven and not us.” Let’s try this again; the same thing happened. Every time I moved her hand on Grace— “Hey, Hey” with eyes open and joyful. Well, this went a few more times and all three of us in the room were laughing and crying for Ruth.
I put Ruth’s arm back under the covers, kissed her forehead, picked up Grace and headed down the hallway for a few more pets for Grace. Ruth did go see Jesus about eight hours later. What Grace could do, and I could not, was to meet Ruth exactly where she was: disabled, mute, frail, lonely and tired. She met her without a moment’s hesitation, and this was a gift.
When we got home, Grace got into her bed, curled herself into a tight ball, braiding leg over leg and stayed there, not asleep but not stirring either. She was spent.
Charity is what we can give one another. Don’t be afraid. Just do it!
Blessings,
Dianne Hammontree, secretary of Homeward Bound Dog Shelter.
The Grand Opening of the new dog shelter is on September 11 at 4:00 p.m.
Joe Lyons •
August 28, 2023
Rafael Martinez Age: 40
Marquis Morris Age: 34
Derrick Taylor Age: 46
Glen Pettry Age: 44
The Mansfield Division of Police, Major Crimes Unit is actively searching for the suspects in the Aggravated Murder of one person and the Felonious Assault of three others.
In April of 2022, Detectives from the Ashland Police Division and the Ashland County Sheriffs Office assigned to the METRICH Enforcement Unit initiated a drug trafficking investigation in Ashland County. On April 7, 2022, a traffic stop resulted in two arrests, which led to a search warrant at 158 US 250 Polk, Ohio.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and Polk-Jackson-Perry Fire Department & EMS responded to Township Road 1275, just East of State Route 89, around 5:16 am yesterday morning.
Happiness is a dominant emotion for both Grace and I when we are at a nursing home, strange as that sounds and strange as it was. We didn’t go there to be happy any more than we did to learn about hope or fortitude or to think about courage and faith— but that’s what happened. This day we were blessed with tremendous leadership and a devoted staff.