Police Beat
Police handle disorderly conduct, assault and dog bite complaints

On Dec. 1 police were dispatched to the 300 block of S. Broadway Street. The officer was flagged down in front of 409 S. Broadway. The suspect, Kurtis Yoder, had a “strong smell of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, slurred speech.” He was reportedly swaying while standing and very aggressive. He had an injury and was bleeding from his forehead. The officer placed him in the back of the cruiser and called for Greenville Township Rescue. After investigating the altercation, Yoder was released to paramedics for evaluation. The paramedics advised being concerned about Yoder’s vitals while having a head injury, but Yoder was refusing treatment. They contacted Wayne Hospital; the doctor on duty, after being advised of Yoder’s condition, said the suspect could not refuse treatment and had to be transported to the hospital for evaluation. When advised of this, Yoder became very aggressive toward the officer and the paramedic and extremely vulgar. He was given multiple warnings; his father attempted to calm him down unsuccessfully. The paramedics exited the ambulance due to Yoder’s aggression level. It took four officers to handcuff the suspect, after which he was strapped down on his stomach on the medical stretcher. Yoder was treated at the hospital and released and issued a citation for disorderly conduct. He was then released to his father.

ASSAULT

On Dec. 2 police were dispatched to the 300 block of Riffle Ave. regarding a traffic accident. There were four individuals in the vehicle: Jeffrey Yoder, the driver, and Shawn Yoder, plus two females Chyanna Lewis and Aundrea Cain. The females were crying; Cain advised of abdominal pain, Lewis of neck and head pain. Both were treated by Greenville Rescue and refused transport to Wayne Hospital. Neither male reported injuries. Yoder stated an individual he knew had been following them at a high rate of speed. They were afraid he would hit the back of their vehicle. In the area of 300 block of Riffle the suspect traveled to the left of the center line and struck Yoder’s vehicle in the driver’s side, causing it to spin around and face south. Police have been unable to locate the suspect so far. Greenville Police have asked the Sheriff’s Department to be on the lookout for the suspect.

DOG BITE

On Nov. 29 Thomas Drew was walking his two shih tzu dogs in the 600 block of Wayne Ave. Both were on leashes. Three juvenile females were walking three dogs – two poodles and a pitbull – in the same area. All were on leashes. For an unknown reason the pitbull broke away from the girl and attacked one of the shih tzus. Drew had to pry the dog’s jaws apart to get it off his dog. He sustained multiple bites, punctures and tears to his fingers and hands. His dog sustained multiple lacerations and cuts on the back and neck. Drew was transported to Wayne Hospital for treatment. Drew’s wife, Sharon, took the dog to the veterinarian for medical treatment. The owner of the pitbull, Christina Stoner, was located at 608 Washington Ave. The girl who was walking the pitbull had permission from her father to do so. The warden will file a report and forward it to the Darke County Health Dept. The child will be cited by the warden for being unable to control the dog.

BREAKING & ENTERING / THEFT

On Dec. 10 police responded to a call in the area of East Water from a victim (not named in the report) advising one or more unknown person had raised the left front of his vehicle with a floor jack and took the left front wheel and tire off. The floor jack was left behind. The previous day the victim’s wife had noticed the wheel wobbling. The lugs had been loosened and it appeared someone had tried to take the tire then. No suspects at this time.

On Dec. 4 police responded to a call from Daniel Coppess, 330 E. Fourth St., regarding intruders in his home. He had taken garbage outside to his garage. He was gone for less than five minutes but when he went back into the house he noticed a stairway door was open. It is always closed. Then he saw the front door open. When he turned toward the stairway, one or two males ran down the stairs toward him and pushed him backwards to the ground. Coppess remembers seeing black ski masks, black sweatshirts and black pants. The suspects ran out the front door. Two areas upstairs were slightly disturbed but nothing appeared to have been taken. No suspects at this time.

On Nov. 29 a female suspect attempted to use her credit card at Lassus Handy Dandy, 100 E. Main St. The card was rejected and the female was advised she’d have to pay inside when done. The female agreed, but then got in her car and left when she was done pumping the fuel. She is described as middle aged, white, appx. 5’ 6” and blonde. The vehicle is possibly black a Toyota SUV.

On Dec. 8 Tony Banedo was contacted by the Darke County Sheriff’s Department they had found his car, a 2012 Toyota Camry, on fire near Oliver and Hartle Road. Banedo said he did not know the vehicle was in the county, that he’d given no one permission to drive it. The Sheriff’s Dept. advised him to contact Greenville Police to report it as stolen. Police were dispatched to El Camino on Wagner Street. Banedo said he had locked his car because there were Christmas presents inside of it and his car keys were still in his jacket. He indicated he sometimes gives rides to his employees but they never drive the vehicle. No suspects at this time.

On Dec. 5 police were dispatched to 627 Gray Ave. regarding a vehicle damaged and CD player stolen. The vehicle is owned by Charles Stump. It appeared an unknown suspect used a yellow screw driver to gain entry, damaging the lock on the driver’s side of the vehicle. The CD player was stolen, the yellow screw driver left behind. No suspects.

OVI

On Nov. 29 police were dispatched to the 300 block of E. 4th Street regarding a traffic accident. A vehicle was parked in the middle of the road, and another to the west of it that had damage from being struck. The defendant was in his vehicle looking for paperwork. He said he’d had “a few beers” and was driving home while he was texting on his phone and struck the parked car. His speech seemed to be slurred when he talked. The defendant was unable to pass the standardized field sobriety tests. He was arrested for OVI (Operating a Vehicle while under the Influence). The officer also discovered the defendant was under two license forfeiture suspensions with fees required on both. The defendant, who was unnamed in the report, voluntarily took a Breathalyzer test and recorded a .23. In addition to the OVI, the defendant was issued a citation for Driving under Suspension.

JUVENILE

On Dec. 4 police were dispatched to a residence to speak with the mother about ongoing theft by her son. The juvenile admitted to taking $11 on one day, $5 on another and other times in the past. The son said he needed the money for food and coffee before going to school. He apologized but the mother said she wanted to press charges because it had become an ongoing thing. The juvenile was cited for theft.

On Dec. 3 police responded to an accident in which the suspect rear-ended another vehicle. He was driving a vehicle owned by his legal guardian. The guardian advised the suspect was not licensed and did not have permission to drive the vehicle. The suspect said he was taking his sister to Woodland, but the sister did not attend Woodland. He had attempted to leave the scene of the crash when the officer approached and had to be stopped. No one was hurt in the accident. The suspect was issued a misdemeanor citation for driving without the owner’s consent.

ARREST WARRANTS

On Dec. 4 police were dispatched to Darke County Courthouse regarding Josh Day, who had an arrest warrant on him; original charge was criminal mischief. Day was placed under arrest and transported to the Darke County Jail.

On Dec. 7 police responded to 632 Washington Ave. regarding a possible theft. During the investigation, police made contact with Gary Miller and discovered he had an active bench warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of vehicle trespass, plus an active felony warrant out of Montgomery County. He was arrested and transported to Darke County Jail.

VANDALISM

On Dec. 9 police responded to a vandalism call at 509 E. Third St. from Michael MacDonald. An unknown sharp object scratched the complete right side of the victim’s vehicle. On the rear fender there were multiple scratches; two small dents were found on the top of the trunk and the right side tail light was cracked. The fuel door was broken off and there was a white granular substance near the gas tank that turned out to be sugar. No suspects at this time.

On Dec. 9, Cody Fleming, 320 E. Main St., reported an unknown suspect had damaged all four tires on his truck. All tires had the same puncture mark that appeared to be from a knife blade. No suspects at this time.

Published courtesy of The Early Bird