Taking it to the Streets

MOUNT VERNON — "These women aren't looking for money, they want him (Brian Hess) fired," said William Curphey, attorney for the six women who have filed a discrimination suit against Emergency Management Director Brian Hess, several county officials and members of the Emergency Management Agency and 9-1-1 boards.

MOUNT VERNON — A high-speed chase just after midnight on Friday morning led to the arrest of 20-year-old Ryan Harman, who is facing multiple charges as a result of the incident.

MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Commissioners is searching for a new water/wastewater superintendent after making some organizational changes within the department.

MOUNT VERNON — Kenyon College, through AVI Foodsystems, purchased nearly all of the poultry raised 4-H and FFA members for the 2011 Knox County Junior Fair.

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster handed down sentences in five felony cases Friday, according to Prosecutor John Thatcher.

MOUNT VERNON — City officials are looking at several possibilities when it comes to applying for Issue 2 funds this fall.

UTICA — Pads are popping and footballs are flying at Utica High School, as the football team undergoes conditioning for the 2011 season.

By PAM SCHEHL
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — A high-speed chase just after midnight on Friday morning led to the arrest of 20-year-old Ryan Harman, who is facing multiple charges as a result of the incident.

“The pursuit only lasted approximately three minutes,” reported Mount Vernon Police Officer Troy Glazier, “but covered 1.8 miles at very high rates and total disregard [on the suspect’s part] for safety.”

According to a report filed by Glazier, he was on duty at the time and received information on a pickup truck reported stolen from White Road in Centerburg.

Minutes later, Glazier saw a truck matching the description traveling on South Sandusky Street and pursued the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle, a red 1990 Ford F350, traveled along several streets in Mount Vernon, running red lights, ignoring stop signs and failing to signal turns, driving recklessly. At one point, the stolen truck clipped the mirror of a car on South Park Street.

Glazier reported the vehicle was moving at 50 mph for much of the pursuit, and accelerated to 60 mph on East Gambier Street.

When the vehicle turned onto Maple Street, it slowed and the driver jumped out of the truck. The driverless truck then struck a power pole and came to a stop.

On foot, Glazier and two other officers chased the suspect, who apparently tripped and fell in the area of the Absolute Love Learning Center and was apprehended.

When asked his name, the suspect said he was Ryan Harman, an individual known to have an outstanding warrant for failure to report to probation from an OVI conviction earlier this month.

Harman was arrested for that warrant and incarcerated in the Knox County Jail. Harman has also been charged with OVI, driving under suspension (12 points), failure to control, seat belt, no tail lights, red light, and failure to signal before changing course.

MOUNT VERNON — Sale day at the Knox County Fair is a day when individuals and businesses in the community dig deep to help out area youths.

MOUNT VERNON — Prior to the 2011 Knox County Junior Fair Sale of Champions, Jerry Lamb was honored as the latest inductee to the Junior Fair Sales Hall of Fame.

FREDERICKTOWN — Former Danville police officer Tom Looney, 41, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by the Fredericktown Police Department on an outstanding warrant.

MOUNT VERNON — On Thursday, a jury found Cheryl Garvin not guilty in Mount Vernon Municipal Court.

MOUNT VERNON — Thomas L. Looney appeared before Knox County Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster this morning for a bond hearing.

MOUNT VERNON — Anthony Shaffer did it again.

MOUNT VERNON — A federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court on Wednesday alleges Brian Hess, director of the Knox County Emergency Management Agency, sexually harassed 9-1-1 dispatchers and created a hostile work environment in the 9-1-1 Emergency Call Center since early 2009.

MOUNT VERNON — A predisciplinary conference between city administrators and Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy was held Wednesday.

MOUNT VERNON — While there was fun to be had at the Knox County Fair on Wednesday, competitors in the Showman of Showmen competition were down to serious business.