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Police looking for 77-year-old woman missing from east Columbus

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 22:44:49 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Police are looking for a 77-year-old woman who is missing from east Columbus.

Police say Bonnie Drummond was last seen leaving her home in the 500 block of South Grant Avenue on Monday around 7:30 p.m.

According to police, Drummond is white, 5'5, weighs 130 pounds, and has white hair and brown eyes.

When she was last seen, Drummond was wearing a floral jacket, a brown and white striped shirt and navy blue pants.

Anyone with information about Drummond's location is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4624 or 614-645-4545.

Group calls for Columbus City Schools to cut ties with Columbus police

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:29:40 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- One group sent a letter to Columbus City Schools demanding the district cut all ties with the Columbus Division of Police.

The group protested outside CCS board president Jennifer Adair's home on Monday night.

“I brought it to the board president's house because I think it's important for them to hear us. We could have protested at the Board of Education. If I protest at your house, you are going to hear me,” said organizer Kanyinsola Oye.

Protesters are demanding CCS cut all ties with Columbus police, unless there is an emergency.

“I can only imagine the terror going back to school and seeing these same officers that hit them with wooden pellets. It doesn't make sense we are leaving kids in a situation where they will have increased amounts of trauma and so many other issues they have to face,” Oye explained.

Adair put a sign on her garage for the protesters, and she and two other board members stood by and watched. “Personally I don't think anybody enjoys a protest in front of their house, but I definitely understand and they have every right to peacefully protest,” Adair said.

Adair adds that board members will listen. “In light of what is going on in our community, I think it warrants serious discussion. I think that is what our board is committed to do,” Adair said.

“There are just multiple voices at the table to consider. There might be groups out there that want to see police officers in schools,” said board member Michael Cole.

While this group passionately calls for no more police in schools, the founder of the Starfish Assignment is begging board members to seriously consider the good officers do in schools,such as the Books and Badges program where officers read to students and then the kids get the books, and the Shop with a Cop program.

“I feel that sometimes people don't know the good that the police do. The bad is what gets the play. I don't think they realize the full enormity of the impact of that decision,” said Nicole Banks.

In a statement, Columbus Division of Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said, "We do not use wooden bullets, pepper spray and tear gas on students sitting in classrooms. They have nothing to fear, but we do not want to impose on the schools if we are not welcome. Columbus Police's priority wherever and whenever is safety first, that includes the safety of students and staff.”

School members say they will talk about this issue at their next meeting next week.

Community members, leaders meet with Columbus police to discuss next steps

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:49:21 -0400

Members of Black Freedom, along with leaders in the community, met with supervisors with the Columbus Division of Police and Deputy Chief Jennifer Knight at CPD Headquarters on Monday.

Daniel Crumpler is part of Black Freedom and works in their public relations.

"Black Freedom is a group that formed out of the people that have been leading the protests essentially leading the protests lately," Crumpler said. "We stand for peaceful protests and progressive change within the police department and prison system."

He said they went into the meeting with a list of four bullet points of requests and recommendations.

"We want 30% of the Columbus police department to be black and an extra 10% to be people of color because we need representation of all the races and all communities within the police department," Crumpler said.

Another topic they were prepared to discuss is residency.

"We want police to live in the communities that they are policing because it doesn't make sense for a cop from a white community like say Westerville like a largely white community like Westerville to be policing Linden," Crumpler said.

Crumpler said their organization is also working on a community oversight board, which he said has already been announced.

"We just want to make sure that every one that is going to be on that board is from the community and they can help to oversee things like policies within the police department continuing forward," he said.

Their fourth prepared recommendation is introducing social workers.

"The introduction of social workers into the police force so they can collaborate with communities and figure out what the people need the most," Crumpler said.

He said he understands that they are not able to speak for everyone, but he said they hope to help others share their voices.

When it came to sitting down with Deputy Chief Knight and members of police, he said he's grateful.

"I think it's a beautiful thing that we are actually able to sit down with police who are ready to listen to the demands of the people and actually begin the collaborations because we understand as an organization that it's going to hurt to work within a system that hasn't always represented a large very important part of the American community, but we see that the best way to make sure that change happens is to meet with them," Crumpler said.

He said their organization is open to anyone who wants to join.

"It's open to everybody who shares the same message of peace and progressive change and we need every voice to be heard, not any color, any race, gender or anything like that every voice does need to be heard in this, we all need to be together," Crumpler said.

We were able to talk with Deputy Chief Jennifer Knight after the meeting ended.

"This conversation actually started at Broad and High last week and when we went out there and we started talking to people and that conversation continued several days in a row, this is the next step in that conversation where we sit down at a table and we do the heavy lifting and start talking about details," Deputy Chief Knight said.

She said the department is using this opportunity to truly listen.

"We know there are other community members out there that want to talk to us, we absolutely are open to listening to everyone," Deputy Chief Knight said.

In the meeting, she said they discussed basic goals and are working to build a foundation.

"Those basic goals are they have asked for individuals, more social workers that can respond to the scene and more victim services they feel like the police should be partnering with more social workers," Deputy Chief Knight said.

She said the police already have a lot of training, but they want to expand.

"One of the things we talked about is cultural competency and making sure that our officers understand that we do have that kind of training right now but expanding on that and making sure officers come to the division with a variety of backgrounds and I think we have to make sure everybody understands where everybody comes from," Deputy Chief Knight said.

The chief along with leaders in the community said they plan to meet next week again to discuss more next steps and how to work together.

Police in Mansfield say missing 87-year-old woman safely located

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 23:09:31 -0400

MANSFIELD, Ohio - Police in Mansfield say an 87-year-old woman who was reported missing has been found safe.

Police had been searching for Elizabeth Sazdanoff, who was last seen on Gerald Avenue on Monday around 10 a.m.

Officials confirm Sazdanoff is safe, though officials did not say when or where she was found.

Police say 16-year-old boy injured in east Columbus shooting

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 23:40:25 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Columbus police are investigating after a 16-year-old boy was hurt in a shooting on the east side Monday.

Police said the shooting happened in 400 block of North Nelson Road near Maryland Avenue just after 4:30 p.m.

When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot. The boy was taken to Grant Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition. His condition has been upgraded to stable.

According to police, a 14-year-old boy at the scene was also shot at, but was not hit.

Authorities say the incident began with an argument at a COTA bus stop.

Police say an unidentified suspect then pulled out a gun and started shooting at both victims.

The incident is still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-0877 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).

Records show less than 10% of Columbus police officers are African American

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 18:19:34 -0400

The Columbus Division of Police is currently made up of about 1,950 officers. It's one of the largest police departments in the state with about 23 officers per 100,000 residents.

According to statistics from 2019 provided by the city's equal employment office when the total was 1,862, only 9.8% were black.

Every police department in the country is trying to actively recruit more minorities to the department and the Columbus Division of Police says it has a goal by 2028 to hire 400 to 500 people of diversity.

"We want to have people from all walks of life and that is the ultimate goal," said Sergeant Christopher Smith-Hughes who recruits new officers.

Deputy Chief Jennifer Knight oversees recruiting for the division.

"Our goal in recruiting is to get a diverse and reflective and qualified police force that means more than the color of someone's skin," she said.

Deputy Chief Knight says if the police department wants to reflect the community it protects it needs people of color to join.

"For those individuals out there who believe the police department needs to change I'm going to tell them that the same thing I tell people at Broad and High Street, change comes from within and we would like them to join us," she said.

It takes seven months to become a police officer and the qualifications make some people unqualified.

"In a really good job market it's really hard for everyone because we are all looking for the same thing," Deputy Chief Knight said.

A controversial report that examined the police department showed minority hiring isn't the only issue.

In a 2019 study, called the Matrix Report, it found: "About half of the Police Division’s 438 incidents involving use of force in 2017 were directed against black residents, who make up 28% of the city’s population. An internal survey of more than 1,000 departmental employees — about 44% of the police division — found that about 8% had witnessed an officer demonstrate bias against a member of the public. But among just black employees, about 30% said they had witnessed discrimination against the public. And almost 70% had seen it within the division."

"I don't necessarily agree with the numbers in the Matrix. I would say there is racism and bias in every part of our society and police department is part of that society and we are trying our best to root out that type of behavior but the men and women I work every single day are good people," said Deputy Chief Knight.

To help more young people become officers, the division started a CADET program which is like a paid internship for those 18 years or older to learn what it's like to be an officer.

There's also the TAP academy which bridges the gap between at risk youth and police.

The Division also trained more officers to be recruiters and they've started a podcast called "Uncuffed: Real Talk with CPD" where officers from diverse backgrounds talk about what it's like to patrol the streets.

COTA to resume service to bus lines in downtown Columbus starting Tuesday

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 15:12:52 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Central Ohio Transportation Authority says it will resume service to several bus lines in downtown Columbus starting Tuesday after rerouting the lines because of recent protests.

COTA has rerouted 14 bus lines since May 30 after Columbus police declared an emergency following the protests.

The bus lines that will have service restored include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 102 and CMAX.

Areas of transfer will also take place at their regular locations in downtown Columbus, in addition to the regular 8 p.m. nightly line up, according to COTA.

COTA Mainstream will also return to service in the downtown area beginning Tuesday morning.

According to COTA, the action is being done to help keep customers and bus drivers safe, and to allow protesters to demonstrate safely.

COTA also says 3,5,7,31 and 32 will now run from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Line 12 will now have service starting at 7 a.m.

Customers can see the updated schedules online. Customers can also call COTA Customer Care at 614-228-1776 for more information.

Ohio coronavirus updates: 36,077 confirmed cases in the state, 2,177 deaths

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:31:45 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A look at coronavirus-related developments in Ohio:

Confirmed cases as of June 8
Reported by Ohio Department of Health

36,077 confirmed cases
2,177 deaths
6,499 hospitalizations

ODH is also reporting 2,760 probable cases and 227 additional deaths under an expanded case definition of COVID-19 from the CDC.

Breakdown of Ohio cases by county >>

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CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton are not holding a press conference on Monday, June 8.

The governor's next coronavirus briefing is planned for Tuesday.

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REOPENING DATES

DeWine has announced that zoos, theaters, playgrounds and other indoor and outdoor facilities can reopen June 10.

The governor's directive on Thursday also applies to country clubs, museums, laser tag facilities and roller skating and ice skating rinks. DeWine said the openings must be accompanied by appropriate sanitation measures and social distancing procedures since the threat of COVID-19 remains.

The facilities have been closed for weeks as part of the state's stay-at-home orders to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

The governor has yet to address mass gatherings like concerts and sporting events.

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UNEMPLOYMENT

More than 34,000 Ohioans filed unemployment claims during the last week of May, the state reported Thursday. That's the lowest figure since Ohio’s stay-at-home orders led to widespread layoffs.

The claims are still among the highest on record in the state over the past few decades, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The 34,575 claims filed for the week ending May 30 are down from about 46,000 claims filed the previous week. Weekly claims haven't been that high since late 2008 during the Great Recession.

The numbers announced Thursday pushed total unemployment claims during the coronavirus pandemic to 1.29 million, above the total number of claims over the past three years combined. The state says it has now distributed more than $3.5 billion to more than 6,000 unemployment claimants, close to what was paid out in 2009-2010 during the recession.

Nationally, nearly 1.9 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the running total since the shutdowns took hold in mid-March to more than 42 million, the government said Thursday.

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TESTING

The Columbus Public Health Department said someone with COVID-19 who had symptoms on May 27 nevertheless attended protests in the city's downtown over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The agency said individuals who attended the protests should watch for symptoms and be tested if they get sick.

As of Thursday, Ohio has recorded more than 37,000 confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, with 2,339 confirmed or probable deaths, the state Health Department said.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death.

More than nine of every 10 people have tested negative in the past 40 days, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

State officials and medical experts say they are encouraged by Ohio's efforts to reduce the spread of the virus but caution it's too soon to celebrate.

"We can’t let our guard down,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer for OhioHealth, told the paper.

As of Memorial day, 340,000 tests had been administered since record-keeping began by the state on March 4, according to information obtained by the Dispatch from the Department of Health through a records request.

Chillicothe man spreads message for racial justice through song

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 10:54:00 -0400

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Many people are searching for words to describe the current events unfolding nationwide.

Chillicothe’s John Gray took pen to paper to write a song that could shed light on racial injustice.

Gray told 10TV his inspiration stemmed from a challenge from his father to “write about my feelings and frustrations pertaining to the current and ongoing unrest and systemic racism and oppression felt in the black community.”

The music video was shot at his father’s church, Zion Baptist Church in Chillicothe.

“I did my best to display the message and my own personal feelings in a way that could not only bring light to the problem areas but also offer hope and a voice to a people and generation that feel unheard,” Gray said.

The video has already caught the attention of many around central Ohio.

“My goal for this entire project is to spark a conversation, to stimulate the mind and ears in a way that causes a response and change,” Gray said.

Watch the full video, by clicking here.

Hilliard school district creates task force to address racial inclusivity

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 11:30:08 -0400

HILLIARD, Ohio - As groups across the nation are calling for reform following the death of George Floyd, school districts across central Ohio are also looking at how they'll move forward.

Over the weekend, teachers from Columbus to Dublin took part in protests.

"We know we have work to do, as educators and that's our role in the community right now," said Dublin school teacher Cortney Ingram.

The Hilliard City Schools sent a letter to families calling for a shift. Superintendent John Marschhausen is creating the Inclusivity & Justice Task Force. The goal is to engage schools, parents, and students to make changes in the system that allow everyone to feel safe and cut out even subtle racial discrimination.

"In order for us to understand what action needs to be taken, we need to reach out to our black community, our students, to understand how they feel and not just - what do our policies say."

The superintendent says he believes it is the school's job to build a better future, so allowing racial inequality is not acceptable.

"Not surprisingly, the response hasn't been all positive and I think that speaks to the great divide that we are all working through as a country," Superintendent Marschhausen said. "When there are people reaching out saying 'This isn't your role. This isn't what schools are about,' and that's where we have to say 'no.' We have to stand up for what's right."

Taskforce members will be officially named at the Hilliard Board of Education Meeting on June 15, 2020.

Columbus City Council leaders ask for protester charges to be dropped

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 21:32:33 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - During the first five days of protests downtown, the Columbus Division of Police arrested 92 people.

Now, city council leaders want some of those protester charges to be dropped.

On Sunday, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown made pleas to have the charges of violating curfew and failure to disperse dropped.

"First Amendment rights are paramount, and this past week has been a profound and historic display of those rights in Columbus," Brown said in a statement. "We should not police free speech, and people certainly do not need to face penalty by their government for exercising theirs."

Hardin cited the mayor rescinding the citywide curfew that had been in place for a week prior to Saturday when it was dropped after the filing of a federal lawsuit claiming it violated the U.S. Constitution.

"Folks don’t need to be penalized for peacefully assembling and making their voices heard," Hardin said in a statement. "The City should be focused on implementing the recommendations of the Community Safety Advisory Commission.”

Klein responded shortly after that.

"As of late last week, the City Attorney’s Office has already dismissed several curfew cases after completed review," Klein said in a statement. "We continue to review allegations of violence on a case-by-case basis. Only those charges with sufficient evidence will be pursued. As your city attorney, I stand with those exercising their constitutional right to demand a new culture of justice in Columbus.”

Of those 92 people arrested, 34 were arrested on failure to disperse charges, and 23 were arrested on violation of curfew charges.

Food and community support bring people together in east Columbus

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 23:35:53 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio-- On Sunday, organizers told 10TV they began with a protest in Westerville then held a community event at Noni Knows on Kelton Avenue in hopes of making a change.

"This is what it's all about you know, after all the fighting and the violence and all of the things that's going on in the world right now, I feel like this is just beautiful you know we are all together we're all here we're all just having a good time you know it's peaceful," Noni Grear said.

Noni Grear is the owner and head chef of Noni Knows.

"I just want everyone to know that we are here we're also a resource center so I don't just do food my goal is to spread holistic nutrition health and wellness conscious living, conscious eating," Grear said.

Before people gathered at Noni Knows and C Threads Holistic Center, there was a protest in Westerville.

Organizers told us protesters met at Alum Creek Park at the Amphitheater at noon. They walked on the sidewalks through Westerville and many people even came out of their homes holding signs as protesters passed by.

"We had wonderful speeches people not only took a stand but they expressed themselves," Desmond Fernandez said.

Desmond Fernandez has been and said he hopes to continue being a voice in the community with the protests. He helped organize that part of the event on Sunday.

"We have all different walks of life, I think this is now becoming more of a universal issue where people are understanding that a change needs to happen," Desmond said.

His brother, Jerrell Fernandez is the property manager at Community Threads which is attached to Noni Knows. He said he and Desmond are from Westerville and grew up there, which is why they started with the protest there.

However, they both said they wanted to branch out into the surrounding areas and bring more people together.

"Let's have fun, let's be engaged, let's be informed and come and gather and get resources and support the black community," Jerrel said.

The organizers said the event was held in hopes of providing a more relaxed feel. They hoped people would come for a night of enjoying each other's company, talking with each other, and filling their hearts and stomachs.

"We've had enough negativity, let's actually hang out," Jerrell said.

Desmond said the protests are crucial but the next steps need to be made.

"We can go out and we can protest and we can scream until our lungs can't scream anymore, but we need to have that change of let's educate ourselves and let's connect with one another," Desmond said,

We are told a spokesperson with NAACP was going to be speaking at the event.

Local doctors speak out about racial injustice at Statehouse protest

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 18:42:52 -0400

COLUMBUS - Protesters from many backgrounds took to the Statehouse Saturday to protest racial injustice but for a portion of the afternoon, the lawn became a sea of white lab coats marching for black lives.

“Today was really just a time for us to come together, medical schools across Ohio, to show our support for black lives, for marginalized populations and really just our chance to protest these wrongful killings that have happened for far too long,” said Corey Thompson, a fourth year medical student at The Ohio State College of Medicine. “This is the straw that broke the camel’s back. This is about more than George Floyd, this is about more than Breonna Taylor, this is about decades, centuries of oppression and wrongdoing that cannot be tolerated any longer. This is a public health issue.”

Between the chants there was silence as medical professionals took a knee in solidarity.

“I appreciate all the support that we have from the medicine community and those outside the medicine community from all races,” said Corey Gatewood, a third year medical student at the Ohio State College of Medicine.

Gatewood, who was holding a sign that read, “#BlackMenInMedicine,” said that they would like to see changes in the medical field.

“This is a systematic issue and for years we have not seen increases in the black males that are going into medicine, so this is a call to action,” Gatewood said. “You know, diversity saves lives and we need more people that look like us to take care of our community.”

Westerville South student captivates crowd at protest

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 20:02:29 -0400

WESTERVILLE, Ohio-- It was beginning to look a lot like many peaceful protests we've seen over the last two weeks.

Hundreds of people chanting for an end to racism, an end to unarmed black men dying at the hands of police and demands to change the way police patrol black comminutes.

But something special was about to happen on Sunday when a young lady from Westerville South grabbed the megaphone when the march stopped at Westerville City Hall.

No one in the crowd knew what was about to come out of Isa Sanchez's mouth.

"Living life while black you know nothing of the sort. We have been conditioned to live in fear but I don't want to see another mother shed one more tear," she said.

For nearly 2 minutes she spoke without stopping for a breath.

"I can't go one block without seeing a 'blue lives matter' flag or our blue lives use black men as punching bags," she told the crowd.

She spoke without stopping for a breath.

Her frustration and fear mesmerized the crowd.

"We see these headlines and it hurts us to our core," she said.

The Westerville-South Junior captivated the audience with her rhymes, and when she stopped, the crowd stood and cheered.

For people who think the younger generation isn't engaged with what's happening in the world, don't tell that to Isa Sanchez.

Sanchez is also involved in theater at Westerville South and is part of the school's drug intervention program called Youth to Youth.

'Shoutout to Ohio's Class of 2020': Watch the 10TV special honoring Ohio grads

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:02:30 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer delivers the keynote speech in a televised special honoring recent high school graduates in the state.

Other special guests offering salutes to Ohio graduates include The Late Late Show's James Corden, Modern Family's Ed O'Neill, Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox, golfing great Jack Nicklaus and Ohio State legend Archie Griffin.

Watch 10TV's "Shoutout to Ohio's Class of 2020":

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Man shot in east Columbus, hospitalized in life-threatening condition

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 16:54:29 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio-- Police are investigating a shooting that left a man in life-threatening condition.

According to Columbus police, the shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of Elaine Road on Sunday.

The man who was shot was taken to Mount Carmel East hospital.

Police said they did not have any possible suspect information.

Stay with 10TV as we follow this developing story.

'Hate has no place in civil society': Ohio State AD Gene Smith releases statement supporting Black Lives Matter movement

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:30:59 -0400

Gene Smith, the Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director at The Ohio State University, released a statement Sunday supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

In a statement, Smith said, "The Ohio State Department of Athletics supports the Black Lives Matter movement. We will continue to support our student-athletes as they participate in driving positive change in America so that every person is respected regardless of the color of their skin."

People have been protesting racial injustice in Columbus and across the country following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.

Floyd, a black man, who was in handcuffs at the time, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. The officer, along with three other officers, have been charged.

The full text of Smith's statement is below.

Racism has been declared a public health crisis; hate has no place in civil society.
Over the past decade, Buckeye student-athletes have proactively engaged in issues that have resulted in a shift in our departmental culture; issues that were manifest at the same time in the larger society and reflected in the actions of the student-athletes.
In recent years, several young men in the sport of football made the decision to publicly discuss their personal mental health challenges as a way to help demystify the larger societal conversation about mental health.
Concurrently, student-athletes in the sport of men’s hockey asked the department to support the NHL’s initiative entitled: If you can play, you can play. This effort advocated for support for student-athletes of all sexual orientations.
Student-athletes from many departmental teams have engaged in outreach efforts to support young people in underserved parts of the community. This service has become embedded as part of the departmental culture and is often carried into the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and WNBA by Buckeyes in their professional sport careers.
All of this activity is initiated and (led) by student-athletes. When student-athletes and/or teams come to us with issues with which they want to engage, we provide them resources and support.
Now, our student-athletes have expressed a desire to engage in the Black Lives Matter movement that has grown from Minneapolis, across the nation, and around the world.
The department will continue to support our student-athletes as they participate in activities to eradicate hate and racism in our society. Recently, student-athletes have been active on social media platforms denouncing racism, participating in attention and awareness videos promoting Black Lives Matter, holding peaceful demonstrations (Kneel for Nine) and participating in video calls with their teammates and others.
The Ohio State Department of Athletics supports the Black Lives Matter movement. We will continue to support our student-athletes as they participate in driving positive change in America so that every person is respected regardless of the color of their skin.

10TV's Angela An also spoke to Gene Smith about how he is supporting student-atheletes at The Ohio State University as they go through this challenging time.

Police in Ross County looking for missing 12-year-old girl

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 13:47:26 -0400

ROSS COUNTY, Ohio -- Police in Ross County are searching for a missing 12-year-old girl.

The Ross County Sheriff's Office is trying to find Kaitlyn Stevens. Police say she ran away from the 2400 block of Sullivan Road on Saturday afternoon.

Police say Kaitlyn is white, 5'6, weighs 115 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

When last seen, she was wearing a white shirt with a blue and yellow design, jean shorts and black shoes.

Anyone with information about Kaitlyn's location is asked to call the Ross County Sheriff's Office at 740-773-1185.

Delaware County Sheriff's Office looking for 2 missing teens last seen in Powell area

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 12:57:26 -0400

POWELL, Ohio - The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding two missing teenage girls.

The sheriff's office said 16-year-old Anyla Reinstein and 17-year-old Sierra Mowrey were last seen together in the Powell area on May 30.

Foul play is not suspected and the sheriff's office said that based on recent communication, the girls are believed to have run away from home.

Reinstein is biracial, 5-feet 5-inches tall, and weighs 117 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Mowrey is white, 5-feet 5-inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Pitts at 740-833-2800 or e-mail at rpitts@co.delaware.oh.us.

Former 10TV anchor and pastor Jerry Revish opens up about race and change

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 13:35:00 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio-- Jerry Revish is a familiar face. He's been on 10TV News for more than 40 years. Now, after retiring as an anchor, he spends more time preaching.

He says now more than ever people need to understand each other, find love and compassion.

At this Sunday's service at Unity Temple Church of God in Christ, Pastor Jerry Revish is sharing a message he wants all people to hear.

"It’s beyond skin color, it’s about the sin that’s created when prejudice and bias and bigotry and discrimination has free reign in our country and its had that for way too long," he says.

He says during this trying time, people have turned to him with many questions and concerns.

"I don’t know how to feel about all of this. I don’t know your anger I feel upset I feel depressed I feel confused what’s going on here, how is God allowing all of this to happen," he explains of questions people would ask him.

Revish says meantime, he's felt the desire to help and communicate.

"As far as I’m concerned it’s my desire to make sure that our voices get heard. We’ve got to make some change we’ve got to talk to the folks at City Hall and police some of that is going on. The church needs to be more out front on that," he explains, "The Bible tells us to be angry and you don’t want your anger to turn toxic for you and change who you are."

He says what people should be is open-minded.
And with the recent protests, he's seen something different, something he believes will cause gradual change.

"When I see these demonstrators and protesters locking arms and walking together black white yellow-brown all of them working together there’s a diversity now of people a diversity of support That is emerging out of all of this. And so many more young people are getting involved," he says, "I’m so glad for these protests. I am not happy about the violence and the destruction. That’s criminality. But the protests are talking about things that need to be talked about."

People of all ages, cultures, and races, coming together in support on a global scale.

"We as black people have lived with this situation our whole lives and even our children do too so this is nothing new for us. We’ve always been protesting about it and complaining but now we’re seeing others," Revish explains.

He says it comes down to compassion and love, which can break down a lot of barriers.

"We have to take the person for who they are and try to understand them. We don’t talk the same we don’t look the same we don’t dress the same but we are children of God. So on that score, we are all the same," he says.

Police: 17-year-old shot inside vehicle in southeast Columbus

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 08:55:03 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Police say a 17-year-old boy was hurt in a shooting that happened Saturday in southeast Columbus.

Officers responded around 7:50 p.m. to the 5500 block of Chatterton Road on a reported shooting.

When officers got to the scene, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The boy was taken to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Police say they later found out that the victim was inside a vehicle in the area of Gender Road and Refugee Road when he was shot. Police have not said if the person who shot the teen was also inside same vehicle.

The victim then went to Chatterton Road where police were called.

Police are continuing their investigation into the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).

Police investigating deadly shooting in southwest Columbus

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 11:13:34 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Police are investigating after a man was killed in a shooting that happened Sunday morning in southwest Columbus.

Police say the shooting happened in the 300 block of South Eureka Avenue.

The victim, who has been identified as 39-year-old Dale Kendig, was pronounced dead at the scene just after 6 a.m.

According to police, an argument took place between Kendig and the gunman before Kendig was shot.

Police say they are looking for someone in a white Dodge truck. Authorities have not provided any other suspect information.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).

6 people escape house fire in southwest Franklin County

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 06:17:46 -0400

GALLOWAY, Ohio -- Six people escaped a house fire that happened Sunday morning in southwest Franklin County.

The fire happened in the 1200 block of Saffron Place around 3:20 a.m.

Columbus fire officials said one person was treated for minor burns.

Officials also said firefighters had an issue with getting to the home because of cars parked on both sides of the street, which made it difficult for fire trucks to get to the back of the home.

There's no word on what caused the fire.

“It’s time to make a change": Family of Henry Green marks 4 years since his death

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 00:02:54 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio-- For the past ten days, people have been gathering to have their voices heard in Columbus and central Ohio.

Protests all over the county have been taking place.

Many of the protesters have personal stories to share as to why they are there and why they are fighting to make a change.

Miguel Geno Tucker, Henry Green’s uncle, was at the protest on Saturday which marked four years since Green’s death.

Green, 23, was killed in 2016 by undercover police officers Zach Rosen and Jason Bare.

Police said say they spotted Green with a gun at the corner of Duxberry Avenue and Ontario Street on June 6, 2016.

Police said Green was shot when he ignored commands to drop his gun.

In 2018, then-deputy chief Thomas Quinlan said an investigation reviewed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Columbus Division of Police found that they acted within division policy.

In 2019, a wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court against police over green’s death was dismissed by a judge.

“It’s time to make a change, we cannot no longer stand for injustice of our kids being killed in the streets,” Tucker said.

Tucker created a program with his sister called Remember Us Urban Scouts, which he said officially launched last year to help the youth.

He told us it started with them giving out turkeys around Thanksgiving and bikes around Christmas.

“I started it honestly as a business project for my college class, they told us to write a business plan for something we’re passionate about and that is my passion,” Tucker said.

His passion is helping people in the community grow individually and together.

He’s now focusing on helping youth ages 14 to 22.

The program is in partnership with IMPACT Community Action.

“We designed a program online platform that allows the youth to get the life skills they need to, to survive in the community they come from,” Tucker said.

Tucker and his sister have started a landscaping company. In the program, 25 kids will have the opportunity to get paid while helping cut grass in the Linden community.

He said they will make $13.50 per hour as pre-apprentice and contractors will make $18 dollars per hour to supervise them.

He said it’s about getting everyone, any age involved in making a change.

“I say this all the time especially to my organizers who have been on the frontlines for a long time, we’ve been begging for this base asking for this base,” Tucker said.

We asked Tucker the question, what’s next? What are the next steps and efforts?

“What’s next is the policy changed that the people our base that’s here want, we have to give them what they want cause many times organizations come with policy changes and a list of demands that the community doesn’t support because they don’t feel attached to it,” Tucker said.

He said they want to help give people in organizations a chance to share their voices, ideas and next steps.

Family renews $50,000 reward to find suspect in 2017 Reynoldsburg murder

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 10:58:14 -0400

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio -- When Gail Stennies first set up a new reward with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers a year ago, she thought $50,000 would generate new leads in her brother’s cold case murder.

It didn’t. Not even one new clue has surfaced.

“Perhaps it was someone acting along and at the time no one else saw anything, even after police canvassed the neighborhood,” Stennies told 10TV’s Angela An from her home in Atlanta, Georgia.

The family has decided to extend the reward money for another year in hopes someone will come forward with information that leads to a suspect.

“It just may well be it was a single perpetrator, and at the time they acted with no visibility and have not comment to anyone else about what they did,” Stennies added. “Or if they did they're talking to like-minded people who are not law-abiding and will not come forward.”

James Stennies was killed on April 17, 2017 at the Miracle Car Wash in Reynoldsburg. He was shot several times. Police believe it may have been an attempted robbery, although when Stennies’ body was found in the parking lot, his wallet and cell phone weren’t taken. His car was still in the wash bay with the keys inside.

“We don’t know a motive,” Gail Stennies said with anguish in her voice. “I think if someone would have wanted his wallet, he would have handed it over.”

Reynoldsburg detective James Gammell says he believes whoever shot Stennies became scared and fled.

“Just a truly senseless criminal act to take the life of someone who was not bothering you at all,” she added.

Gail Stennies says if money doesn’t lead to her brother’s killer, she believes modern forensic science will.

“There are cases solved, after 10, 20 or more years,” she said. “So, I remain hopeful when I see those events and law enforcement officials always have cases that stay with them, even if they retire and new people come on, there are cold case units and there are a new set of eyes.”