Taking it to the Streets

4:28 p.m. update

BLADENSBURG — The unidentified man at the East Knox Elementary School this morning was a worker contracted by the school to test the building’s water, Steve Larcomb, school superintendent told the News.

The man was seen on surveillance video in a classroom and the boiler room. Larcomb confirmed there are some classrooms with water supply.

He said the school will change its policy and require workers to check in with the office personnel regardless of when they are in the buildings.

The school was put on lockdown this morning after a cook saw the man and he was seen on surveillance. Law enforcement conducted a room-by-room search and found no evidence or the man. Classes were canceled and parents were permitted to pick up their children until 11 a.m., at which time the remaining students were transported to the middle school.

3:35 p.m. update

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  Suspect Photo

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  Suspect Photo

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff’s Office 740-397-3333

12:00 p.m. update

By Alan Reed

BLADENSBURG — East Knox Elementary School in Bladensburg remains closed this afternoon after an unidentified male was seen in the building just after 7 a.m.

A cafeteria cook reportedly saw a male individual and reported it to the school secretary. The man was scene on video surveillance video and district superintendent Steve Larcomb ordered the school to be placed under lockdown.

Law enforcement from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office and Danville Police Department responded to the school and conducted a room-by-room search. K-9 units from the Danville PD and the KCSO were also utilized in the search.

It was not known who the suspect is or why he was there. Larcomb said he believed this person was no longer in the building after a thorough building search was conducted. He also stated there was no evidence the man in the building had a weapon.

Knox County Sheriff Dave Shaffer told the News surveillance video confirmed the man entered a classroom and the boiler room.

Parents were alerted to the issue by robo-calls this morning. The first stated the school was locked down because an unknown male was in the building, but the children were safe and secured, and could be picked up. The second call stated the school was closed for the day and parents could pick their children up at Bladensburg until 11 a.m., or at the Middle School where students were transported.

Neighborhood parent Sarah Carson said she heard yelling from across the street that the building was on lockdown. Upon approaching the school, she was told that no one was being permitted to enter the building.

Cassie Colbert told the News she received a phone message from the district’s messaging system alerting her that the building was locked and that all students could be picked up at the school parking lot. Upon arrival at the school, staff members were coordinating a signout procedure of all students who had already arrived.

Danville PD officer Dan Weckesser told the News that the dogs found no definitive evidence, but the dogs were a little suspicious near a rear entry door of the building.

“We have secured the building,” said Larcomb.

The elementary school was closed for the day and all district staff and security left the premises at 11 a.m. Larcomb said the building will continue to be monitored and the situation will be assessed through the superintendent’s office.

11:28 a.m. update

By SAMANTHA SCOLES
News Managing Editor

BLADENSBURG  — Classes were canceled at East Knox Elementary School this morning after parents were alerted there was an unidentified male in the building.

According to a parent that spoke to the News this morning, she was alerted there was a situation at the school when she received a robo-call stating there was an unidentified male in the building, but the children were safe. A second call alerted parents that classes were canceled.

Children can be picked up at the Bladensburg school until 11 a.m. today. After that time, they will be taken to the Howard campus where they will be fed lunch. Parents can pick their children up there or the children can ride the bus home as usual.

The building has been evacuated of all teachers and staff. Law enforcement is making a room-by-room sweep of the building.

No information has been released from the district or the Knox County Sheriff’s Office as of 10:15 this morning.

The News has a reporter and photographer on the scene and will report details as they are released.

10:16 a.m.update

East Knox Elementary building in Bladensburg is on lockdown this morning. No official details have been released but will be updated as we get them.

{5:00 p.m.} UPDATE AEP is hoping to restore power to those affected by 7 p.m. tonight.

McKenzie Road Power Station

MOUNT VERNON — More than 2,200 Knox County residents are currently without power. No information is currently available as to the cause of the outage but a tree has fallen on power lines near a transformer station on McKenzie Road.

A call seeking information from AEP Ohio was not immediately returned.

By Samantha Scoles
News Managing Editor

MOUNT VERNON — The six women who sued members of the Knox County 9-1-1 and EMA boards, several county elected officials and EMA Director Brian Hess have finally gotten their wish.

documents

Answer of Knox County Defendants to Plaintiff' Complaint

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Civil Cover Sheet

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Complaint

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Notice to Counsel

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related

Attorney: Suit not about money; want Hess’ job

July 30, 2011

Federal lawsuit filed against Hess

July 28, 2011

Hess acknowledges behavior; will keep job

January 7, 2011

EMA director Hess put on leave

December 14, 2010

This morning, Hess was officially terminated after the EMA board unanimously voted to approve his discharge Thursday afternoon during an emergency meeting.

According to Assistant Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville, Hess was terminated because the board believes he was not upfront about the reason he left Mohican Juvenile Correctional Facility in 2005.

Hess was fired because of “employee dishonesty and loss of confidence by the board in his ability to lead the agency,” according to McConville.

Information received by McConville earlier this week as part of discovery in the civil lawsuit illustrates a sexual harassment incident involving Hess and a youth from MJCF on Nov. 5, 2005.

According to the document acquired by the News through a public records request, Hess walked up behind a youth and “grabbed” the youth’s head “and (Juvenile Corrections Officer) Hess then began thrusting his crotch in [the youth’s] face.”

Investigation of the incident through footage on security cameras corroborates the youth’s allegations of the thrusting and that Hess “acts like he is unzipping his pants and moves his crotch toward the back of the youth’s head.”

According to the documents, when asked about these incidents, Hess declined union representation “because of its embarrassing subject matter.” Hess told the investigator the youth had told him his pants were unzipped so he checked and then initiated “horseplay” with the youth.

The conclusion of the report was that the allegation against Hess was founded. According to William Curphey, the plaintiff’s attorney, Hess resigned before action could be taken.

The civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on July 27, 2011, alleges Hess sexually harassed 9-1-1 dispatchers and created a hostile work environment since early 2009.

Curphey told the News shortly after the suit was filed that the women “aren’t looking for money, they want him (Hess) fired.”

Part of the lawsuit specifies the defendants, Sheriff David Barber, commissioners and board members of EMA and 9-1-1, were negligent in hiring Hess because they “should have known that Hess had previously been discharged or otherwise resigned from the Mohican Youth Center for inappropriate sexual misconduct with a minor.”

When rumors started to circulate about the alleged incident, McConville made a public records request for Hess’ personnel file, which made no mention of the accusations. However a document was included that stated Hess was placed on paid administrative leave on Nov. 18, 2005, but no additional information was included. McConville said he did not question the administrative leave because no additional information was in his file.

“We thought we had the full record,” McConville said. “It stood to reason that if there was more to it, it would have been in the file.”

Curphey said today the acquisition of the investigative file was no easy task and required the assistance of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

When considering Hess’ ability to be honest and trustworthy, evaluation of his applications for employment with the county resulted in the discovery of discrepancies regarding his work history.

“If you look at the applications, you are required to give an entire work history with dates of employment,” McConville said.

On his application for the EMA deputy director position, dated Jan. 28, 2008, Hess only mentioned that he worked for the Ohio Department of Youth Services in response to a question inquiring whether or not the applicant has ever applied, or been employed, by the state, a county or a political subdivision. There was no listing of ODYS or Mohican in his employment history and work experience. However, Hess documented that he was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency from April 2003 to September 2007.

On his application for the EMA director position dated March 26, 2009, Hess listed his employment with the CIA starting from April 2003 to “no definitive date.” He also listed that he was employed by Mohican as a corrections officer from September 2005 to September 2006. Hess documented that he left the employment of Mohican because of his family and that “my business was taking off well enough to support them.”

According to records in his personnel file from Mohican, Hess was employed starting Sept. 13, 2004. He submitted his letter of resignation on Dec. 22, 2005, because of a job opportunity with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Curphey told the News today the lawsuit will continue because the damage has been done.

“That was the problem, that was all they were seeking and that wasn’t done. They had to resort to a court action,” Curphey said.

Even though Hess is no longer a county employee, he will still be represented by the county in the lawsuit.
McConville declined to comment on whether or not the termination of Hess’ employment with the county has any bearing on the progression of the lawsuit because it remains pending litigation.

The county has acquired mutual aid agreements with EMAs from surrounding counties while it searches for a new director.

A message left for Hess seeking comment was not returned.

MOUNT VERNON — All charges against Harley Hanna, 24, in the death of Glen Willey, 41, of Mount Vernon, were dismissed today by Judge Otho Eyster.

When Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher finished presenting the state’s case against Hanna, defense attorney Jim Giles moved for dismissal, arguing that the prosecution had not proved its case.

Hanna was charged with two counts of assault and one count of involuntary manslaughter.

For more information regarding the close of the case, see Thursday’s edition of the News.

Six people, including three Knox County Sheriff’s Office detectives, underwent decontamination procedures after a chemical spill was discovered while the detectives were talking with the occupants of a house in Apple Valley.

By ALAN REED
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — A young male was apprehended by Mount Vernon Police officers Wednesday afternoon after allegedly robbing Hunnicut’s Jewelry on South Main Street.

Store owner Charlie Hunnicut called the MVPD at about 1:45 p.m. after an unnamed suspect came into the store, approached the counter and demanded all the store’s money, claiming he had a gun, which eventually proved to be a finger in his coat pocket. Hunnicut described the suspect as male, Caucasian and maybe in his early 30s.

“I talked with him and calmed him down, and he finally showed me he had no gun,” said Hunnicut. “He said he was desperate. I gave him $30 and he left.” Hunnicut gave a description of the suspect to the police department, telling them he was traveling south on Main Street.

“I’ve been in business over 40 years. This is the first time this has ever happened, and I hope it’s the last,” said Hunnicut, adding that he has had two windows broken in recent years.

Details from the police department were not available. A Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy was also on the scene.

Photo by Chuck Martin

CENTERBURG — A Piper Tomahawk plane landed in a cornfield near Chapman Memorial Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The two passengers were uninjured.

According to the pilot, the guage indicated there was fuel; however, the tank ran dry and the pilot was forced to land before arriving at the air field.

The Central Ohio Joint Fire District responded to the downed plane.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are currently on the scene.

See Thursday’s edition of the Mount Vernon News for more details.

MOUNT VERNON — In a decision released this morning, Knox County Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster upheld the Mount Vernon School Board’s decision to fire former middle school science teacher John Freshwater.

Since the board’s decision was based on the recommendation of contract termination hearing officer R. Lee Shepherd, Eyster’s job in considering Freshwater’s appeal was to determine whether or not Shepherd’s decision was valid, illegal, unconstitutional or unlawful.

To that end, Eyster reviewed 6,344 pages of transcripts and approximately 350 exhibits from the hearing, as well as transcripts from board of education meetings and board resolutions. He then determined that Shepherd’s decision was valid.

In a journal entry, Eyster wrote, “there is clear and convincing evidence to support the Board of Education’s termination of Freshwater’s contract(s) for good and just cause.”

Eyster also denied Freshwater’s request that the court conduct additional hearings and ordered Freshwater to pay the costs of the appeal proceedings.

Freshwater did not return requests from the News for comment as of press time.

The history of the case:

In April 2008, the school board launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct on Freshwater’s part. The investigation by an outside agency was completed in June, and, responding to information as a result of the investigation, the school board passed a resolution of intent to terminate Freshwater’s teaching contract.

As allowed by law, Freshwater requested a hearing to contest the board’s decision. That hearing began in October 2008 and continued sporadically until it was officially concluded in January 2011. The hearing referee R. Lee Shepherd at that time recommended that Freshwater’s contract be terminated.

The Mount Vernon City Schools Board of Education formally terminated Freshwater’s teaching contract in January 2011, and Freshwater filed an appeal with the Knox County Common Pleas Court.

In March, the school board filed a petition to remove the case to federal court and that was approved. The appeal was moved back to Knox County in April and became part of Judge Eyster’s docket.

MOUNT VERNON — Rodney Snyder, 37, Mount Vernon, was arrested Wednesday after the Mount Vernon Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit and MVPD detectives executed a search warrant on a Mount Vernon residence.

According to Mount Vernon Police Chief Michael Merrilees, a search of 111 E. Lamartine St., resulted in the discovery of a meth lab in the basement of the residence.

Snyder was arrested without incident and charged with assembly or possession of chemicals used to manufacture controlled substance with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. Additional charges are possible.

An unnamed woman was at the residence at the time of the search. No charges have been filed against her.

Members of the Meth Task Force, a unit that is training and maintained by METRICH were present to extract the components and chemicals of the lab. METRICH is a 10-county multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement unit that includes MVPD.

An outside company was utilized to dispose of the lab components and chemicals because of the volatile and toxic nature of the materials. The cost of the cleanup will be paid out of funds that are replenished with fines collected from violators of drug laws, Merrilees said.

By ALAN REED
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — Former Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy pleaded not guilty to a 19-count indictment this morning in Knox County Court of Common Pleas.

Christy, 39, Centerburg, was indicted Sept. 6 by a Knox County Grand Jury on charges of theft in office, deception and tampering with government records, among others. He had been on paid administrative leave from his job on June 2 before submitting his resignation on Aug. 26.

Charges against Christy include theft in office, as well as deception and tampering with government records.

The two theft in office charges comes from Christy receiving paramedic compensation of $5,194.52 in addition to his salary by deceiving the city of Mount Vernon. Those charges are both third-degree felonies.

There are also 10 tampering with government records, which are also third-degree felonies. Those charges stated Christy falsified his emergency medical service training records so it would appear he was complying with paramedic continuing education requirements.

Two counts of forgery allege Christy forged the signature of a former EMS training coordinator on training certificates, and five falsification counts accuse Christy of making false statements to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services, about his continuing education requirements. Forgery is a fifth-degree felony while falsification is a first-degree misdemeanor.

A personal recognizance bond was set by Judge Otho Eyster with a trial to be scheduled at a later date.

Christy was represented this morning by his attorney, Jonathan Tyack.

MOUNT VERNON — Former Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn T. Christy was indicted by the Knox County Grand Jury on Tuesday on 19 felony counts.

According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, the indictment alleges between Jan. 1, 2009, and Aug. 26, 2011, Christy, 39, Centerburg, committed theft in office by receiving paramedic compensation in addition to his salary totaling $5,194.52, by deceiving his former employer and beyond the scope of the city’s consent. Tampering with government records charges allege that Christy falsified his emergency medical services training records so that it would appear he was complying with paramedic continuing education requirements. The indictment alleges Christy forged the signature of a former EMS training coordinator on the face of an emergency medical services training certificate. Falsification counts accuse Christy of making false statements to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services, about his continuing education requirements. The case was investigated by Detective Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department.

This is a breaking news story, more updates will be posted

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MOUNT VERNON — This afternoon a jury in the Knox County Common Pleas Court found Frederick Parker not guilty of sexual battery.

The two-day trial ended with a short deliberation period and the not guilty verdict.

Read Thursday’s edition of the News for details of witness testimony from Wednesday.

MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy has resigned.

According to Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis, Christy handed in his resignation last Friday, Aug. 19, and it has been accepted by city administration effective immediately.

The News will continue to report on Christy’s resignation and the details of the separation agreement as they become available.

1:35 p.m.

FREDERICKTOWN — Former Danville police officer Tom Looney, 40, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by the Fredericktown Police Department on an outstanding warrant.

In July 2010, the Knox County grand jury on one count of grand theft, a third degree felony; and possession of stolen property, a fourth degree felony. A gun specification was included in the indictment because a gun was involved.

Looney resigned from his position with the DPD in May 2010.

The News has yet to confirm a court date for Looney.

By ALAN REED
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — Rescue personnel pulled the body of Noe Plata, 32, Mount Vernon, from the Kokosing River on Tuesday afternoon.

Plata is believed to have drown Monday afternoon while swimming near the Caves Campground, east of Millwood on Monday.

According to family friend Kimberly Kurutz, Plata along with his wife, Joann Fields, and daughter had just arrived at Caves Campground east of Millwood. Shortly after Plata went swimming in the river, Joann reportedly heard what sounded like a cry for help. Not knowing if it was a serious or playful cry, she then heard a second plea spoken in Spanish.

The family and others in the area could not spot Plata and quickly responded to his rescue. Not able to find him, they called 9-1-1.

Arriving at the scene were personnel Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District, Fredericktown Community Volunteer Fire Department, Walhonding Valley Fire Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

“Our understanding is that he was not that strong of a swimmer,” said Knox County Sheriff David Barber. “And I don’t believe they were familiar with swimming in the river in this location.”

Divers were in the water searching since Monday afternoon and into the evening hours until search efforts were discontinued around 9:30 p.m. when darkness made it unsafe to continue. The search resumed this morning with divers, boats with sight sonar and cadaver dogs in search of the body.

“At about 1:20 p.m., the body came to the surface with divers in the water and was positively identified by family members who had been here since last night,” said Barber.

Knox County Coroner Dr. Jennifer Ogle ordered the body taken to the Licking County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy.
“The water temperature was about 75 to 76 degrees; and when it is this warm, it can bring a drowning victim to the surface much quicker than if it’s cold water,” said Barber. “That’s what we had been anticipating.

Plato’s wife and family were unavailable for comment.