Local
Man linked to Erica Baker case set free
MERCER COUNTY — Christian Gabriel, the only person ever charged in connection with the disappearance of Erica Baker, was released from prison Thursday.
Baker disappeared from a Kettering park in February 1999 at the age of 9. Her body has never been found.
Gabriel, 41, was convicted of gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in 2005 and sentenced to six years in prison.
Police believe Baker was hit by a van that Gabriel and others were driving on Glengarry Drive.
Gabriel was released from prison June 14, but handed over to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, where he was wanted on an old domestic violence conviction. Gabriel was in jail until Thursday when he appeared in court and his release was granted.
Pam Schmidt, Baker’s grandmother, spoke up during the hearing, asking the judge to release Gabriel so he could be with his son, who is ill. She also picked Gabriel up from jail so they could talk. WHIO-TV
Two arrested for defacing bridge
SPRINGFIELD — Two men were arrested early Thursday morning after they were accused of defacing a city bridge.
Joseph A. Brown, 23, of Columbus, and Matthew D. Skaggs, 26, of 330 Glenn Ave., Springfield, were arrested on charges of vandalism and possession of criminal tools after the incident between 3 and 3:15 a.m.
A report by the Springfield Police Division showed police found the suspects spray painting a bridge near the intersection of Warder Street and North Limestone Street. Police also found two black bags filled with cans of spray paint. Both suspects were ordered into court. staff report
2nd man arrested in robbery case
SPRINGFIELD TWP. — John J. Porter II, 26, of 776 N. Florence St., was charged with robbery Wednesday after an interview by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office about his involvement in the alleged robbery of a man early June 11 near The Farm Restaurant on West National Road.
John W. Hayes was the first man arrested in the case. staff report
Man reports theft of $2,800 in utilities
SPRINGFIELD — A man called Columbia Gas Service and Ohio Edison Service to begin receiving services at a house he is in the process of purchasing on the 1100 block of Rose Street.
He was informed then he had an outstanding bill for each company worth $2,800 combined at a house on 400 block of West North Street. The man said that is the address where someone he knows lived at the time.
He told police he never requested services at that address and never gave the woman who lived there permission. staff report
Thefts reported:
• A resident on the 1500 block of Mound Street Thursday reported their computer and monitor worth $1,500 missing after a person they know asked to use the computer.
• Someone broke into a home on the 2000 block of Roberts Avenue sometime between 1:30 and 11:40 p.m. Thursday and took a television worth $950 and a window air conditioner unit worth $400.
• The alarm system at a house on the 400 block of Euclid Avenue sounded at about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday. As a man was getting dressed to check on the disturbance, his wife saw someone steal their lawn mower and tools from their garage, a police report states.
• A person reported the theft of $1,350 in appliances on Wednesday, including an electric stove, refrigerator and a window air conditioning unit. The theft happened sometime between May 1 and June 8.
• A resident on the 1000 block of North Belmont Avenue reported $2,000 worth of miscellaneous fishing poles taken from his vehicle between midnight and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
• Someone reported a burglary of a residence Tuesday on the 2000 block of Boda Street. Taken were $500 worth of copper pipe, a $60 drill and a $160 air compressor. staff reports
Arrests:
• Jermaine A. Bogan, 30, of 269 Catherine St., was arrested Thursday morning on charges of felonious assault and domestic violence. Police say he assaulted a 32-year-old female he knows. The victim was transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center and treated for a broken clavicle.
• Ronald L. Gordon, 32, of 2744 Upper Valley Pike, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony domestic violence after a pregnant woman whom he knows told police he entered her house and began squeezing her. The victim’s 5-year-old child was present. The victim was taken to the hospital. He was located at his residence by police.
• James R. Combs, 48, of 1709 Lexington Ave., was arrested Tuesday on criminal trespassing, theft and possession of criminal tools charges after police say he took copper from Cooper Industries on the 1400 block of Sheridan Ave.
• Larry Jackson, 35, of 435 W. Washington St., was arrested and charged with assault, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest Tuesday after police say he smacked a 49-year-old female. Police said the suspect fled, then tried to assault the officer before being arrested at his home. Staff reports