ELYRIA — A North Ridgeville man charged in the shooting death of his wife appeared in court Monday but entered no plea.

Ronald Svec

Ronald Svec, 74, was arraigned before Elyria Municipal Court Judge Lisa Locke Graves, who set bond of $750,000 on each of two counts.

According to court records, Svec entered no plea on either charge of murder and felonious assault filed by North Ridgeville in the death of his wife, Gloria Svec, 69, who was shot several times in the couple’s Jaycox Road home Friday night.

The woman was fatally shot Friday evening by a man later identified by police as Svec, who called police to report the shooting about 6:45 p.m.

When police arrived, they found the woman lying in the kitchen of the couple’s home. Gloria Svec was unresponsive at the scene, according to police.

The woman was taken to St. John Medical Center in Westlake, where she was pronounced dead.

Police have released no details of the case beyond copies of the audio 911 call made by Ronald Svec in which he stated he had shot his wife after she pointed a knife at him.

Svec then asked police to send an ambulance.

Svec also told a police dispatcher there was a child in the home when he shot his wife. The child could be heard crying in the background, whom Svec told to sit in a chair and not move.

At that point the line went dead.

The family declined to comment and requested privacy in the aftermath of the shooting.

Gloria Svec was described by friends and people who worked with her at Murray Ridge Center, including Christina Morris, as a sweet person who always talked about the grandson she was raising.

Stacy Smith, who knew Svec from her job at Murray Ridge, termed her “a compassionate woman with a great heart and warm smile” who cared a great deal for the people she worked with and counseled at the center.

In court Monday, Ronald Svec was found to be indigent, after which Locke-Graves assigned attorney Kenneth Nelson to represent Svec.

A condition of Svec’s bond is that he have no contact with his 4-year-old grandson and must stay 500 feet away from the child, according to a court entry.

Svec was also ordered not to possess any firearms and to stay away from his 5915 Jaycox Road residence until Monday.

Svec is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bond in Lorain County Jail.

His next court appearance is set for 1 p.m. today.

The post North Ridgeville man accused of wife’s killing enters no plea in first court appearance appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

Eric Warfel, whose 20-month-old daughter’s body was found decomposed in her crib in July, has been found competent to stand trial after a psychological evaluation.

Eric Warfel and his attorney, Michael O’Shea, listen to proceedings Monday in Medina County Common Pleas Court. NICK GLUNT/CHRONICLE

Warfel, 34, of Medina, was scheduled to begin a trial by jury Monday. After receiving the results of Warfel’s evaluation, however, his attorney asked the court to delay the trial. Warfel now is scheduled for trial in January.

Warfel faces charges of gross corpse abuse, evidence tampering, cocaine possession and three counts of child endangering. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, which would have put Warfel in a mental institution instead of prison. But the evaluation by an Akron Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic psychiatrist means he’ll go to trial and face possible prison time instead.

Warfel is accused by police and prosecutors of failing to contact police or medical professionals after he found his 20-month-old daughter, Ember, dead in her crib in mid-June. Her body was discovered “badly decomposed” in a Forest Meadows Apartment Homes unit on July 29, police said.

Ember Warfel

Police said Warfel had been living in a motel in Middleburg Heights when his daughter’s body was discovered. Warfel was arrested later that day at Crocker Park Shopping Center in Westlake, where he was shopping with another daughter.

Ember Warfel’s body was transferred to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, which has not yet ruled on the girl’s cause of death. Prosecutors have said Warfel could face additional charges based on the results of the girl’s autopsy.

In court Monday, Warfel’s attorney, Michael O’Shea, asked the judge to re-examine Warfel’s $1 million bond, which has kept him at the county jail pending court proceedings.

Medina County Common Pleas Judge Christopher J. Collier said he would rule on the bond issue Friday. He asked O’Shea and county Prosecutor Dean Holman to submit written arguments on the issue no later than Thursday.

Another of Warfel’s children, Erin, 5 months old, was found dead in March 2013. Her death was ruled “sudden unexplained infant death, sustained in a manner undetermined,” and no charges were filed.

The post Dad accused of leaving dead infant in crib found fit for trial appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett pleaded guilty Tuesday to a count of driving while impaired and was sentenced to a three-day driver-intervention program and fined $400. His license was also suspended for six months.

Barrett, 20, apologized to his family, Ohio State and OSU football fans in a brief statement at a hearing in Columbus Municipal Court where his lawyer said Barrett took responsibility for driving under the influence. “I’m just truly sorry,” Barrett said.

Barrett must complete the class and pay the fine by Feb. 15 or face jail time, said Judge H. William Pollitt as he accepted Barrett’s plea.

Columbus police cited Barrett early on the morning of Oct. 31 after he was stopped at a police check point. In addition to being suspended for last week’s Minnesota game, Barrett will forfeit his summer financial aid, coach Urban Meyer said.

Meyer said Barrett, who turns 21 in January, came to his home the day of the incident to apologize. Meyer said Barrett told him he did not believe he was impaired.

Barrett was home Oct. 31 relaxing with friends when a “heavily intoxicated” friend stopped by and Barrettdecided to drive him home, said Barrett’s attorney, Phil Templeton. Barrett’s sense of responsibility as an Ohio State captain played a part in that decision, Templeton said.

“He now recognizes, of course, that was a poor decision given what has happened to him,” Templeton said. He wouldn’t identify the friend.

Templeton also said that Barrett was home that night, Halloween, instead of out “reveling” like so many other people his age.

“He wasn’t out doing the things that so many other college kids around the country were doing,” Templeton said.

The lawyer noted to the judge that Barrett’s blood-alcohol level of 0.099 was only slightly above the legal limit of 0.08 for adults, though he acknowledged Barrett was underage. In Ohio, the limit is 0.02 for people under 21.

Unlike other people charged with drunken driving, Barrett had the added punishment of being publicly ridiculed with his picture everywhere on TV after his arrest. “He’s paying the ultimate price,” Templeton said.

Judges in Ohio have the option to sentence first-time drunken driving defendants to a three-day residential driving-intervention program instead of jail time. Private counseling services typically offer the program in hotels at costs ranging from $300 to $500.

Barrett is considered the starter heading into the No. 2 Buckeyes’ game at Illinois this Saturday.

The post Ohio State quarterback Barrett pleads guilty to driving while impaired appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — Construction of a $4.8 million, 50-bed expansion of the Lorain-Medina Community Based Correctional Facility looks to get underway in February and be completed by September.

Mike Willets, executive director of the facility, updated county commissioners on the status of the project Wednesday.

The 50-bed addition will include 40 beds for men and 10 for women.

More room is needed as the facility has a waiting list of 40 men and seven women, according to Willets. The facility currently has space for 62 men and 18 women.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections is awaiting funding approval from the state Controlling Board for the expansion project, Willets said.
The expansion is being designed by K2M Design of Cleveland.

Officials look to have the project go out for bids by mid-December, with bids received by mid-January, and a contract awarded within a few weeks.

“The state wants us in by July, but realistically it looks like we’ll be in by September,” Willets said. “It should be a pretty rapid construction.”

Opened in 1997 as a men-only facility, the facility accepts low-level inmates, 90 percent of whom are dealing with opiate addictions. A women’s wing was added in 2005.

The majority of people sent to the facility are not first-time offenders. Most are on probation through the county or state and are assisted by facility staff on a one-to-one basis to learn basic skills to help re-integrate them back into the community after 10 weeks for employment and re-establishing relationships with family.

The facility also works to get inmates sober prior to beginning instruction and other coursework, Willets said.

“Some may have tested positive for drugs, and this is the final step before being sent to prison,” Willets said.

“This can’t come fast enough with the heroin epidemic,” Commissioner Lori Kokoski said.

Risk assessments are made to determine whether individuals are released after 10 weeks or held another four to six weeks depending on their at-risk factors, Willets said.

Once released, men and women attend AA meetings, make arrangements to live in sober environments and continue to have supervision through probation departments, according to Willets.

“They still need that support once they are on the outside,” Willets said.

The expansion also is expected to add at least 15 full-time and six part-time workers to the facility’s current staff of 28 full-time and eight part-time employees.

The facility is working with Lorain County Community College to ideally “get quality employees,” Willets said.

Employees work one of three shifts at the 24-hour facility with jobs expected to range from those requiring high school degrees and paying approximately $11 an hour to case managers earning $15 to $16 an hour, Willets said.

Persons seeking case manager positions typically require four-year degrees in criminal justice, sociology or psychology, Willets said.

“These are the people who teach and work one-on-one with residents,” Willets said.

The expansion and increase in staff likely will lead to a doubling of the center’s yearly budget from $2.1 million to $4.2 million, which is covered by the state.

“The staff is county employees who are paid by a state grant,” Willets said.

Men and women will be housed separately in two new dormitory-style buildings that have a common kitchen facility, Willets said.

The new structures, which are expected to add roughly 18,000 square feet to the current facility, will be built on county-owned land to the rear of existing buildings near the Lorain County Jail and the county TB clinic, Willets said.

The post Correctional facility expansion plans readied; construction could start in February appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

LORAIN — A judge Tuesday refused to accept a plea deal for a man accused of vehicle trespass and bribery because the victim’s family wasn’t at court.

Paul Pelton appears in Lorain Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing Nov. 10. STEVE MANHEIM/CHRONICLE

Paul Pelton, of Lorain, had been prepared to plead no contest to vehicle trespass and a reduced charge of attempted intimidation. As part of that deal, the prosecution was requesting that Pelton receive a suspended jail sentence, $200 in fines and 25 hours of community service.

But Lorain Municipal Court Judge Thomas Elwell wanted to hear from the family of Cameron Friend, the 17-year-old who died in the crash that Pelton filmed.

Pelton was one of the first people to arrive after a car crash in the 400 block of Kansas Avenue, where teens Zachary Goodin, 17, and Friend, were severely injured after Goodin’s 1999 Honda hit a pole, a parked car, a house and a tree before catching fire.

Goodin was charged last week with aggravated vehicular homicide for driving the vehicle, which went airborne and killed Friend, whom he had known since grade school.

Shortly after the crash, police charged Pelton with vehicle trespass, a misdemeanor, and then later added felony level bribery after Pelton was accused of going to Goodin’s home and trying to persuade him to tell police he had permission to enter the vehicle.

Pelton also allegedly told Goodin he would testify on his behalf in the aggravated vehicular homicide case and say the actions of Lorain police had caused Friend’s death.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Szabo said the plea agreement reducing the bribery charge was a result of discussions between himself, Pelton’s attorney RJ Budway, Lorain Detective Buddy Sivert and Goodin and his family.

The hearing was rescheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 20. Both Pelton and Budway declined to comment following Tuesday’s hearing.

The post Judge halts plea deal for Paul Pelton appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — A grand jury will hear the case of a North Ridgeville man accused of shooting his wife to death Friday night in their Jaycox Road home.

Ronald Svec

Some 15 to 20 family members of Gloria Svec sat quietly waiting for more than 90 minutes Tuesday for a scheduled preliminary hearing for Ronald Svec, Gloria’s husband, in the courtroom of Elyria Municipal Court Judge Lisa Locke Graves only to learn Svec waived his right to a hearing.

The case will now be turned over to a county grand jury, which will consider whether to return an indictment against Svec, 74, who is charged with murder and felonious assault.

As she took the bench to preside over other cases Tuesday afternoon, Locke Graves announced a continuation of Ronald Svec’s bond at $750,000 on each count, which was set during Svec’s arraignment Monday during which he entered no plea on either charge.

Svec also was ordered to have no contact with a 4-year-old grandson and not to possess any firearms and to stay away from his 5915 Jaycox Road residence until Monday.

After finding Svec to be indigent, Locke Graves assigned attorney Kenneth Nelson to represent him.

The family declined comment in court, but Andrea McCormick, who identified herself as one of Gloria Svec’s daughters, handed members of the media a brief statement.

Speaking on behalf of her sister, Darlene McCormick, and Ashley Mullar, who Andrea McCormick said is the mother of the 4-year-old child, Andrea wrote, “My mom was the best of the best. The amount of people suffering her loss and the amount of lives she touched is immeasurable. We are now her voice and her advocates and we will be certain that justice is served.”

North Ridgeville police identified Ronald Svec in a 911 call as saying he had shot his wife, age 69, several times about 6:45 p.m. Friday after she pointed a knife at him.

Gloria Svec was unresponsive when found in the kitchen by police. She was pronounced dead at St. John Medical Center in Westlake.

The man police identified as Svec also told a police dispatcher there was a child in the home during the time of the shooting.

It was not immediately clear if the child was the couple’s 4-year-old grandson.

The post North Ridgeville killing to go to county grand jury appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — A Vermilion man was arrested today and charged in connection with an August crash that killed an Elyria man.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol has charged Michael McFarland, 43, with aggravated vehicular homicide, texting while drive, reckless operation and failure to maintain assured clear distance in an Aug. 21 crash that killed Hubert H. Vaughan, 48, of Elyria.

The patrol alleges that McFarland was texting while driving a 2000 Dodge 1500 westbound on U.S. 20 in New Russia Township. The patrol said that McFarland rear-ended a 2008 Jeep driven by Tami Ford of Elyria, went left of center and struck a Ford Focus driven by Vaughan, before going off the road and turning onto its side. The Focus also went off the road.

McFarland received injuries described as incapacitating, and was taken by LifeFlight to MetroHealth Medical Center after being extricated by the Wellington Fire Department. Vaughan was also extricated, but pronounced dead at the scene. Ford had minor injuries.

McFarland surrendered to police without incident, and is currently in the Lorain County Jail pending arraignment in Oberlin Municipal Court.

The post Vermilion man charged in August fatal crash appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

WESTLAKE – The man driving what appeared to be an unmarked cruiser patrolling Center Ridge Road on Monday afternoon had two problems when he was pulled over by officers.

Stephen Salem

He wasn’t a real police officer — and police said he had drugs stuffed into his sock.

Officers say they noticed the vehicle, a Chevrolet Trailblazer, around noon because of the police placard in the windshield and strobe lights on the front and back of the car.

The driver also seemed to be speaking into a radio microphone.

Police did not recognize the driver, whom they later identified as Stephen Salem, 47, or the vehicle, so they pulled the SUV over.

According to police, as officers approached the car, Salem tried to hide the placard. Inside the car, police also found a CB radio, handcuffs, a handheld police scanner and a paper copy of a Westlake Police Department shoulder patch.

Police say Salem told them he was attempting to slow traffic by posing as a police officer.

Salem was charged with impersonating a police officer, as well as drug possession and possession of drug abuse instruments. Police said they found heroin in Salem’s sock, and there were other items in the SUV related to heroin, including a spoon, needles and a torch.

Salem is currently out on bond. Police said the case will go to the grand jury.

The post Westlake man charged with police impersonation, drug possession appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — Drivers are being rerouted from the interchange between State Route 57 and Interstate 90 as Ohio Edison crews work on a downed power line.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, drivers from Interstate 90 are unable to get off at the Route 57 exit, and drivers on Route 57 are unable to get on the interstate.

Police said shortly before 1 p.m. that the lines were repaired, and the intersection should reopen in an hour or two.

Around 11:30, police said a low-hanging power line was being worked on by crews from Ohio Edison, and power was out in and around Midway Mall.

The post UPDATE: Interchange near Midway Mall closed for downed power line appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

Evan Goodenow and Allie Shultz
The Chronicle-Telegram

ELYRIA — Five-year-old Alyna Santo Domingo was sitting on the floor in her bedroom playing a game on her iPad when a bullet sailed about two feet over her head about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Evan Goodenow / Chronicle
Alyna Santo Domingo, 5, sits in her bedroom Wednesday near where a bullet went through a wall Tuesday.

“I heard a boom,” Alyna said as she sat on her bed in her home at 538 Bell Ave., Wednesday. A police report was unavailable Wednesday night, but police spokesman Capt. Chris Costantino said the bullet is believed to have been fired randomly into the home after a fight involving several people at the Shell station, 905 Lorain Blvd., about a block north of Alyna’s home off Keys Drive.

Costantino said officers responded about 8:05 p.m. Tuesday after a Shell clerk called police about a disturbance at the station and possible gunfire. Officers saw nothing suspicious and left.

The clerk called back shortly afterward and said a group of people fought at the station and then drove south on Bell Avenue. He said three men and one woman were involved in the first incident and the woman may have had a head injury.

The clerk said when the group returned, there were six men. He said the people fled in a black SUV and a red car that may have been Chevrolet Cavalier. Costantino said a bullet was found by officers in the driveway of Pepsi Beverages Co., 925 Lorain Blvd.

Alex Santo Domingo, Alyna’s father, said Janis Santo Domingo, his wife, was sitting on Alyna’s bed when the shooting occurred. He said she noticed a plastic bag of cotton balls against the wall where the bullet struck fall to the ground by Alyna.

Then Xavier Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo’s 12-year-old son, came into the bedroom and said he heard two shots. On Wednesday, Alex Santo Domingo showed The Chronicle-Telegram the path of the bullet.

It passed through an outside wall of the home and a living room closet before striking the bedroom wall. It then ricocheted through a pocketbook against the bedroom wall and through the bag of cotton balls before lodging in a bedroom closet door. Alex Santo Domingo said police took the closet door with the slug to process it for evidence.

Santo Domingo, who has lived in the home since 2005 — his parents moved into it in 1991 — said they haven’t had crime problems before. Santo Domingo said his daughter is too young to fully comprehend how close she and her mother came to being shot, but he does.

“It’s was scary just thinking about what could have happened to my 5-year-old and my wife,” he said.

Contact Evan Goodenow at 329-7129 or egoodenow@chroniclet.com. Contact Allie Shultz at 329-7245 or ashultz@chroniclet.com.

The post Stray bullet whizzes past 5-year-old girl appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

NEW RUSSIA TWP. — A 43-year-old Vermilion man was arraigned Wednesday morning after being arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal August car crash police said was caused by texting while driving.

Michael McFarland

Michael D. McFarland pleaded not guilty to the charges of vehicular homicide as well as misdemeanor charges for reckless operation, willful or wanton disregard and driving while texting.

According to police, McFarland, of Brownhelm Station Road in Vermillion, was driving on U.S. Route 20 in New Russia Township on Aug. 21 when his Dodge 1500 rear-ended a Jeep. McFarland’s vehicle then drove left of center and hit a Ford Focus, which went off the road.

The Focus was driven by Hubert H. Vaughan, 48, who died at the scene. Vaughan was a lifelong Lorain resident, a father of three and grandfather of five.

In his obituary, he was remembered for loving his family, motorcycling, scuba diving, shooting pool, camping and fishing.

The driver of the Jeep, Tami M. Ford, 53, had minor injuries after the crash.

McFarland’s vehicle overturned and he was treated for “incapacitating injuries” at Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center.

During the investigation into the crash, police obtained a search warrant to look at McFarland’s phone records.

Police say Vaughan’s family was notified of the charges.

McFarland was released from jail on a $5,000 personal bond.

There is a preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday in Oberlin Municipal Court.

The post Vermilion man arraigned for vehicular homicide in New Russia Township crash appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

AVON LAKE – An increased police presence was at Avon Lake High School on Thursday morning after the district caught wind of a potential threat against the school.

Superintendent Bob Scott said the threat, specifics of which haven’t been provided beyond that someone indicated violence would occur on campus, was made Wednesday night. However Scott, who also said it wasn’t a bomb threat, said at this point it appears the threat wasn’t legitimate.

Students approached school officials after seeing a threatening text from someone saying something was supposed to happen Thursday or Monday, Scott said, and they provided screen shots of the threat.

“We got some names and police started an investigation last night,” Scott said. “The investigation was ongoing but at this point we were pretty much able to substantiate that it was not a legitimate threat.”

Nonetheless the threat was out in cyberspace, Scott said, and even more so after numerous students shared word of it on social media. Eight police officers were at the school Thursday, he said, although there are no plans to cancel classes this week or next.

“We’re doing a very thorough investigation because you always take those things seriously,” Scott said. “Because we wanted everyone to feel safe we did have added police at the school this morning.”

Police will remain at the school at least through Monday, Scott said, and he praised the police, his staff and students for taking the threat seriously and acting accordingly.

“I really appreciate how hard Avon Lake police and my high school administrative staff have worked on this,” Scott said. “They’ve been very thorough and very professional.”

Scott didn’t say if the threats were made by Avon Lake High School students or someone outside of the district from another school.

Once an investigation is complete the two individuals will likely face some form of disciplinary action and potential criminal charges. Scott said some students didn’t come to school on Thursday, which makes the threats even more serious since it interfered with those students’ educations.

School is hard enough without having to fear for personal safety, he said.

The post Avon Lake police, district officials cautious after potential threat appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

AVON LAKE — An increased police presence responded to Avon Lake High School on Thursday morning after the district caught wind of a potential threat.

Bob Scott

Superintendent Bob Scott said the threat, the specifics of which haven’t been provided beyond that someone indicated violence would occur on campus, was made Wednesday night. However, Scott, who also said it wasn’t a bomb threat, said at this point it appears the threat wasn’t legitimate.

Students approached school officials after seeing a threatening text from someone saying something was supposed to happen Thursday or Monday, Scott said, and they provided screen shots of the threat.

“We got some names and police started an investigation last night,” Scott said. “The investigation was ongoing, but at this point we were pretty much able to substantiate that it was not a legitimate threat.”

Nonetheless the threat was out in cyberspace, Scott said, and even more so after numerous students shared word of it on social media. Eight police officers were at the school Thursday, he said, although there are no plans to cancel classes this week or next.

“We’re doing a very thorough investigation because you always take those things seriously,” Scott said. “Because we wanted everyone to feel safe we did have added police at the school this morning.”

Police will remain at the school at least through Monday, Scott said, and he praised the police, his staff and students for taking the threat seriously and acting accordingly.

“I really appreciate how hard Avon Lake police and my high school administrative staff have worked on this,” Scott said. “They’ve been very thorough and very professional.”

Scott didn’t say if the threats were made by Avon Lake High School students or someone outside of the district.

Once an investigation is complete, two individuals will probably face some form of disciplinary action and potential criminal charges. Scott said some students didn’t come to school on Thursday, which makes the threats even more serious since it interfered with those students’ educations.

School is hard enough without having to fear for personal safety, he said.

The post Avon Lake threat believed a hoax appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

STONE RIDGE, N.Y. — The new rookie at one New York police department weighs 60 pounds, has a big, lolling tongue, a soft caramel coat and a chance to fight stereotypes in addition to crime.

When she graduates Friday from K9 training school, Kiah will be one of just a few pit bulls to serve as a police dog. It’s a job usually given to breeds that don’t come with the pit bull’s reputation — deserved or not — as a savage animal fit only for the company of criminals.

“The breed isn’t important,” said Brad Croft, who trains dogs for law enforcement and the military and found Kiah in a Texas animal shelter after her previous owner was arrested for animal cruelty. “It’s what’s inside of the dog that’s important.”

German shepherds and Belgian Malinois are most commonly employed as police and military dogs, trained to chase and detain suspects or find drugs, cadavers and missing people. Beagles, collies, retrievers and bloodhounds are also used. Pit bull police dogs are almost unheard of.

Kiah will be a sniffer for the Poughkeepsie Police Department, used to detect drugs and track missing people. She’s also a goodwill ambassador, for her breed and for the police.

“She wants to work,” said Kiah’s handler, Officer Justin Bruzgul. “She’s high-energy. Affectionate. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Croft often visits animal shelters looking for abandoned dogs that he thinks would make good police dogs. He selected Kiah after a worker at the shelter recognized something special in the dog.

Kiah was given to the department at no cost thanks to a partnership between Croft’s company, San Antonio-based Universal K9, an Austin animal shelter and Animal Farm Foundation, a nonprofit based in New York’s Dutchess County that works to ensure “equal treatment and opportunity” for pit bulls.

Traditional K9 breeds cost as much as $15,000 per dog.

Despite frightening stories from around the country — a 9-year-old girl was fatally attacked by a pit bull this month on Long Island — advocates say the breed’s reputation for violence is undeserved, the result of the breed’s use in dogfighting and as a status symbol for gang leaders.

Bernice Clifford, Animal Farm’s director of training, noted that the term “pit bull” itself is misleading, since it is often applied to any dog with a muscular frame and block-shaped head. As a result, she said, many are condemned to shelters and euthanasia simply because they were labeled a pit bull.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there is no evidence that laws banning particular breeds reduce dog attacks. A 2014 report from the Animals and Society Institute reviewed several years of data on fatal dog bites and found no correlation between dog attacks and breeds.

There’s also little connection between a dog’s breed and their aptitude for police work, according to George Carlson, the Ulster County sheriff’s deputy who trained Kiah in Stone Ridge, New York. He said a dog’s drive, energy and eagerness to please are more important factors.

Kiah is the only pit bull police dog that he’s heard of on the East Coast, Carlson said. He calls her a “sweetheart” and expects her to excel in her new job.

“Dogs are individuals,” he said. “They have their own personalities, just like people. And I’d rather train dogs than people.”

The post Rare breed: New York police department uses pit bull as K9 appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

DOVER, Del. — The arrest of a uniformed Secret Service officer on charges of trying to solicit a teenage girl for sex and sending obscene images and texts online is the latest embarrassment for the agency charged with protecting the president and his family.

Lee Robert Moore, 37, of Church Hill, Maryland, was to appear at a preliminary hearing Friday in Delaware on state charges of sexual solicitation of a child under 18 and providing obscene material to a person under 18. He is charged separately in federal court with attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.

Moore surrendered to authorities in Maryland on Monday after being caught in an undercover online sex sting by Delaware State Police.

His arrest brings new scrutiny to a federal agency already reeling from a series of scandals stretching back to 2012, when more than a dozen agents and officers were implicated in a South American prostitution scandal. Since then, multiple agents and officers have been accused of wrongdoing. Former agency director Julia Pierson was ousted last year after the disclosure of two security breaches, including an incident in which a man armed with a knife was able to scale a White House fence and run deep into the executive mansion.

According to a complaint unsealed in federal court Thursday, Moore often engaged in online chats while on duty at the White House, once asking an undercover officer who he thought was a 14-year-old girl to send him something “exciting” on a day when he was checking IDs for a building entrance and complained that “work sucks today.”

It was not immediately clear whether Moore has hired an attorney.

“The Secret Service takes allegations of potential criminal activity extremely seriously,” the agency said in a statement Thursday. The Secret Service said Moore’s security clearance was suspended on Nov. 6, the same day the matter was reported to its Office of Professional Responsibility.

According to federal authorities, Moore reached out in August to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl on the social media application “Meet24.” They subsequently agreed to communicate using the social media app “Kik,” which allows the exchange of images and videos.

“Moore soon moved the chats sexual,” Detective Kevin McKay wrote in an affidavit. “He stated he wanted to travel to Delaware and meet in person for sex. Moore made it clear that he knew I was a 14 yr old girl.”

The affidavit, as well as the federal complaint, go on to describe graphic communications that Moore allegedly had with undercover officers, including sending a picture of his erect penis.

On Nov. 8, after being told he was being placed on leave and ordered by the Secret Service to report to a Maryland State Police barracks in Centerville, Moore sent a final message to the female undercover trooper.

“I don’t think we should talk anymore,” he wrote.

According to the federal complaint, Moore admitted after being taken into custody that he had taken and sent the explicit picture showing an erect penis. He also admitted that he had communicated with other “Meet24″ users he thought to be minor girls.

“In particular, Moore stated that he had an (sic) sexual interest in 14 year-old females and had engaged such individuals in online chats about sexual matters,” wrote Patrick McCall, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations.

The post Sexting arrest latest embarrassment for U.S. Secret Service appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

SHEFFIELD TWP. — A Lorain man who called police about shots fired at his home ended up being charged with two felonies.

Officers say Alexis Guzman, 32, who lives on the 5300 block of Bond Ave., called police stating he heard five to six shots. He told police three males forced their way into his home and fired shots at him.

After a struggle, Guzman said they left, but continued to fire shots, according to police.

Lorain police, working in tandem with Lorain County Sheriff’s deputies, say several shell casings were found both inside and outside the house, and bullet holes were found inside.

After searching Guzman’s home, police say they found a semi-automatic pistol, along with what they believe is two small bags of cocaine, one small bag of heroin, and 13 bricks of marijuana.

Guzman was charged with having weapons under disability and trafficking marijuana and taken to the Lorain County Jail.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 329-3742.

The post Lorain man arrested after calling police for shooting appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA— Elyria police have identified two suspects in an incident Wednesday that resulted in a stray bullet going through a home and narrowly missing a 5-year-old girl.

Shamille Craighead, 21, and Dominique Sharpe, 21, both were charged with aggravated riot, a fourth-degree felony. The charges came after police were called about the incident, which started with a fight at a gas station.

Police say Craighead and Sharpe were part of a group of several men and one woman who were fighting at the Shell gas station at 905 Lorain Blvd.

Later, police were called back by the Shell clerk about a possible shooting.

Police searched and found a live bullet in the driveway of Pepsi Beverages Co. on Lorain Boulevard. They also received a call about a bullet going through a home at 538 Bell Ave.

That is when 5-year-old Alyna Santo Domingo was sitting in her mother’s bedroom, and a bullet traveled above her head, hitting the bedroom wall. Her mother, Janis Santo Domingo, called police.

Police say both Craighead and Sharpe admitted to being a part of the group involved, but neither admitted to having any involvement in the shooting or possessing a firearm.

Craighead lives very close to the Santo Domingo family, at 651 Bell Ave. Sharpe is also an Elyria resident, at 1877 Turner Blvd.

Both men were being held at Lorain County Jail with $5,000 personal bonds.

Officers are still investigating the case and are looking for the other suspects. They said they are looking into a possible motive for the original fighting. After speaking with the two suspects, police still believe the bullet going through the Santo Domingo’s home was random, police said.

The post Pair charged with aggravated riot after Elyria shooting incident appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — Elyria police have identified two suspects in an incident Wednesday that resulted in a stray bullet entering a home and narrowly missing a 5-year-old girl.

Shamille Craighead

Shamille Craighead, 21, and Dominique Sharpe, 21, both were charged with aggravated riot, a fourth-degree felony. The charges came after police were called about the incident, which apparently started with a fight at a gas station.

Police said Craighead and Sharpe were part of a group of several men and one woman who were fighting at the Shell gas station at 905 Lorain Blvd.

Later, police were called back by the Shell clerk about a possible shooting.

Police searched and found a live bullet in the driveway of Pepsi Beverages Co. on Lorain Boulevard. They also received a call about a bullet going into a home at 538 Bell Ave.

Five-year-old Alyna Santo Domingo was sitting in her mother’s bedroom when a bullet traveled above her head, striking the bedroom wall and eventually lodging in a bedroom closet door. Her mother, Janis Santo Domingo, called police.

Dominique Sharpe

Police said both Craighead and Sharpe admitted to being a part of the group involved, but neither admitted to having any involvement in the shooting or possessing a firearm.

Craighead lives near the Santo Domingo family, at 651 Bell Ave. Sharpe is also an Elyria resident at 1877 Turner Blvd.

Both men were being held at Lorain County Jail with $5,000 personal bonds.

Officers are still investigating the case and are looking for the other suspects. They said they are looking into a possible motive for the original fight. After speaking with the two suspects, police believe the bullet entering the Santo Domingos’ home was random, police said.

The post Two suspects held in home shooting appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — Search parties combed parts of Elyria and Cleveland for a Brooklyn teenager who has been missing since Nov. 8. Alexis Marie Boroviak, 15, was last seen by her family about 9:30 p.m. that Sunday when she took her dog outside before she was supposed to go to bed.

When her family went outside to check on her, the dog was still on the outside on a chain, but Alexis was gone.

Saturday, her family and friends split up and searched around both Elyria and the west side of Cleveland. Alexis’ parents, Britton Ramsey and Linda Chalfant, are leading the search efforts.

They said they were looking in Elyria Saturday because they had received tips that Alexis may be in the area.

See Sunday’s Chronicle-Telegram for complete story.

The post Family searches for missing teen in Elyria area appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

ELYRIA — Search parties combed parts of Elyria and Cleveland for a Brooklyn teenager who has been missing since Nov. 8. Alexis Marie Boroviak, 15, was last seen by her family about 9:30 p.m. that Sunday when she took her dog outside before she was supposed to go to bed.

When her family went outside to check on her, the dog was still chained outside, but Alexis was gone.

Saturday, her family and friends split up and searched around Elyria and the west side of Cleveland. Alexis’ parents, Britton Ramsey and Linda Chalfant, are leading the search efforts.

They said they were looking in Elyria Saturday because they had received tips that Alexis may be in the area.

“I do feel like we made progress. It feels good that we have a lot of people looking, sharing on Facebook and all of that,” Ramsey said.

Alexis’ family members said they don’t know if she ran away or was abducted. Ramsey said the rest of the family was sitting in the front of the house when Alexis took the dog out the back of the house. He said they didn’t hear anything.

Ramsey said there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary last Sunday. He said the family was in good spirits. Alexis had just returned from spending the weekend with a friend.

“She had a great time with her friend. She was looking forward to going to Polaris (Career Center in Middleburg Heights) for EMT classes,” Ramsey said.

Lorain City Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr., D-6th Ward, and an intervention specialist with Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, is assisting in searches around the area.

The family is working with Brooklyn and Elyria police.

Alexis was last seen wearing lavender pajama pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, gray Nike shoes and glasses. She has light brown hair, brown eyes. She is 5 foot 3 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds.

Brooklyn police are asking anyone with information to call (216) 749-1234.

The post Group searches in Elyria for missing 15-year-old appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.