WestChesterBuzz.com

The West Chester Township Police Department is currently accepting applications for its next session of Citizen Police Academy, which is a 10-week program that will be offered on Tuesday evenings starting March 26.

The program is offered as part of the community’s ongoing education program called West Chester University. The Citizen Police Academy is designed to give civilians a closer look at the workings of the police department, according to a recent press release given out by the township.

“The Citizen Police Academy was created to build a strong and lasting partnership between the Police Department and the community,” said West Chester Township Police Chief Erik Niehaus. “Participants will learn firsthand about our operations to foster a better understanding between police and the public.”

“Alumni of the program have become ambassadors for the police department and have assisted at events like Touch a Truck and the bike rodeo.”

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and either reside or work in West Chester Township. Class size is limited.

Curriculum for the Citizen Police Academy will include: Patrol operations, criminal investigations, special operations, traffic investigations and much more. Participants will visit the shooting range, the township jail, the forensics lab and ride along on patrol.

West Chester University is a series of informative programs offered to encourage better communication between West Chester Township government and the residents and businesses of the community.

Applications for the Citizen Police Academy are available online at West Chester Township’s official website, at the West Chester Administration Building and at the West Chester Police Department.

The administration building is located at 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road and the police department is located at 9577 Beckett Road, Suite 500.

For additional information, call 513-759-7280.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Citizen Police Academy, Citizen Police Academy West Chester, Erik Niehaus, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Chief Erik Neihaus, West Chester Police Department, West Chester University

Crime Stoppers photo of suspected credit card thief entering the Lowe’s in West Chester. The suspect tried to purchase $2,000 worth of gift cards at the store, but left without them after he was asked to provide identification. Photo provided.

Police are looking for a man, who is accused of stealing credit cards from two different Greater Cincinnati LA Fitness locations this month and then using them to buy gifts worth thousands of dollars.

After allegedly stealing credit cards from a Florence (Ky.) fitness club, this suspect went on a spending spree at many stores including this Best Buy in Florence, Ky. Photo provided.

According to Detective Patrick Cottingham of the Florence Police Department, a victim had his vehicle keys stolen from his locker at LA Fitness in Florence on Feb. 17. The suspect then stole the victim’s wallet and credit cards from the car.

The charges made on the credit cards total approximately $8,000 worth of gift cards and cell phones at Best Buy, Lowe’s and Meijer. Gift cards purchased with the stolen credit cards have been used as far away as Columbus, according to the report.

Two days prior to the theft in Florence, a similar incident where another credit card was stolen occurred at the LA Fitness in West Chester. Detective Doug Farris of the West Chester Police Department said the stolen credit card was used at the Meijer in West Chester and at Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe.

The suspect also attempted to buy gift cards worth $2,000 at the Lowe’s in West Chester. However, when asked to provide identification, the suspect left without the gift cards. Including that transaction, which went through according to Farris, the suspect spent approximately $4,000 with the card he stole in West Chester.

In both incidents, the victims had used combination padlocks on their gym lockers. Each time, the suspect was able to open the lock, go through the locker and re-lock it before being seen.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. All calls are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

People can also contact the West Chester Police Department at 513-777-2231 or 513-759-7266 or the Florence Police Department at 859-647-5420.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, West Chester Ohio crime, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

The West Chester Police Department will offer a free shredding and identity theft awareness event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

During the event, West Chester police will be at The West Chester Activity Center, 7900 Cox Road, to accept personal paperwork for shredding and to answer any questions related to identity theft.

No registration is required; participants are free to arrive any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please remove paper clips and staples from the documents to be shredded.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: document shredding, identity theft program, The West Chester Activity Center, West Chester identity theft program, West Chester Police Department

Alicia Lang participates in a walk in her honor during the Alicia’s Lungs benefit at Lakota West High School in May of 2011. It was one of many fundraisers the family had as Lang waited for new lungs. Photo taken by Amanda Davidson.

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Lakota West grad wakes up after double-lung transplant – When Alicia Lang finally woke up Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Cleveland Clinic, she did so with a new pair of lungs. Lang, a 20-year-old Lakota West graduate who has cystic fibrosis, has been waiting for more than two years for a double-lung transplant. On Feb. 11, the long wait was over. Lang’s operation was a success. WestChesterBuzz.com reported the story last week.

Pat Hiltman is resigning effective immediately from his trustee post because a recent job change. Photo provided.

Liberty Township trustee Pat Hiltman steps down – After serving seven years as a Liberty Township trustee, Pat Hiltman is stepping down, 10 months shy of finishing his second term. Hiltman said he was resigning effective immediately because a recent job change requires extensive travel.

Justice doled out differently in Butler Co. courts – Sheila McLaughlin reported last week: The weekly cattle call at Butler County Area III Court swells with a mixed bag of people charged with minor crimes and traffic violations. They spend hours waiting for their cases to be called. Many plead guilty, get probation and make a stop at the clerk’s window to pay their fines. Most go on their way with a criminal record that anyone can see.

Gun rally in West Chester – There were times, on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in West Chester, when the Day of Resistance gathering felt like a heavily armed history class. Hundreds of people stood, many with pistols on their hips or semi-automatic rifles slung over their shoulders, and listened to speakers talk about the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, about the Federalists versus the anti-Federalists debate, and the history of the legal theory of nullification.

Two different police departments say this suspect is responsible for stealing donations from a pair of local mosques on the same morning. Photo provided.

West Chester police looking for thief who stole from mosques – West Chester and Miamisburg police departments are trying to identify a man, who detectives say is responsible for stealing donations from a pair of local mosques on the same morning. Crime Stoppers released photos of the suspect last Wednesday.

Lakota West RB Mikel Horton adds offers – Minnesota and Western Michigan offered Lakota West junior running back Mikel Horton last Wednesday, according Lakota West head football coach Larry Cox. Horton, who has received interest from Louisville, Penn State and Michigan State, also has offers from Indiana, Kent State, Toledo, Bowling Green and Kentucky.

ASU offers Lakota East OL Jarrett LaRubbio – Arizona State offered Lakota East junior offensive lineman Jarrett LaRubbio last Tuesday, Lakota East coach Rick Haynes told Cincinnati Enquirer high school sports recruiting writer Mike Dyer. Haynes later told Dyer that Western Michigan is offering, as well. he 6-foot-5, 265-pound lineman received offers earlier this month from Duke, Kentucky and Nebraska. He also has offers from Akron, Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State and Ohio.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Alicia Lang, Alicia's Lungs, Crime Stoppers, Cystic Fibrosis, Day of Resistance, Day of Resistance rally, Day of Resistance rally West Chester, Day of Resistance West Chester, fundraiser, gun control, Jim Lang, Judge Rob Lyons, Lakota West, Liberty Township Ohio, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Mary Kay Lang, Miami University, Miami University crime, Nick Lang, Pat Hiltman, Rob Lyons, West Chester Ohio crime, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

West Chester and Miamisburg police departments are trying to identify a man, who detectives say is responsible for stealing donations from a pair of local mosques on the same morning.

Crime Stoppers released photos of the suspect on Wednesday.

According to Miamisburg Detective Jason Threlkeld, the suspect participated in the 6:45 a.m. service at the Dayton Mercy Society/Islamic Center in Miamisburg on Sunday, Feb. 10, before stealing two donation boxes with an estimated $1,500 in each box.

According to Threlkeld, the suspect left the service halfway in and unlocked a door that led outside. He then returned to the service and left the mosque, but returned at 8:03 a.m. to steal the donation boxes.

Later that morning, at 9:38 a.m., the same suspect driving the same maroon Chevy Silverado (make 2005 to 2010), was seen stealing from the donation box at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester.

This time, the suspect didn’t take the donation box. Instead, video surveillance shows that he used what appeared to be a metal hanger “to fish out the money,” according to West Chester Sgt. John Kleinfeldt.

It is not known how much money was taken from the West Chester mosque.

Furthermore, the suspect is thought to have stolen from a vehicle in Blue Ash this month. According to Kleinfeldt, credit cards were among the items that were stolen.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. All calls are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

People can also contact the West Chester Police Department, 9577 Beckett Road Suite 500, by calling 513-777-2231 or 513-759-7266; or contact the Miamisburg Police Department dispatch at 937-225-HELP or by calling Detective Threlkeld at 937-847-6620.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, West Chester Ohio crime, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

WestChesterBuzz.com also added a new video page last week. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Boehner makes visit on eve of State of the Union – On the day before President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, House Speaker John Boehner of West Chester told workers at the Vinylmax LLC facility in Hamilton that the government needs to help the economy by passing a budget. Employees of the company didn’t ask many questions, but the one that drew the biggest response was when someone asked Boehner if he was going to run for President in four years.

Julie Mercer of Pike Pet Pals takes Sarge out of the flexi USA warehouse on Saturday. Sarge, who wasn’t adopted or rescued, faced an uncertain future. Photo taken Feb. 9, 2013 by Carolyn Evans of www.phodographer.com.

Saving Sarge at My Furry Valentine – Sarge, who couldn’t be adopted through a Pike County dog shelter (Ohio) since he was part pit bull, faced an uncertain future. After a final attempt to get adopted or rescued failed at My Furry Valentine in West Chester, Cincinnati area animal lovers stepped up and, officially, this past Saturday Sarge was finally adopted.

West Chester settles with bar patron for $265K – West Chester Township recently reached a settlement with a Blanchester man, paying him $265,000 for a May 2012 incident in which township police repeatedly hit him with batons at a West Chester bar. Surveillance video of the incident was released to the media in June. It showed three officers approaching Jeremy Lewis, 29, on the deck of Win, Place or Show Sports Bar & Grill in West Chester Township about 2:30 a.m. May 6.

Postseason brackets released for Ohio state tournament – Both the Lakota East and Lakota West boys’ basketball programs wrapped up the 2012-2013 regular season with road games this past Friday and now get ready to start postseason play. The girls’ basketball postseason officially tipped off this past weekend.

Posted in: Business, Crime, Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Erik Niehaus, flexi, flexi West Chester, Jeremy Lewis, John Boehner, John Boehner Cincinnati, John Boehner photos, John Boehner West Chester, My Furry Valentine, My Furry Valentine Cincinnati, My Furry Valentine Northern Kentucky, My Furry Valentine West Chester, Pet Adoption Day, pet adoption West Chester, Vinylmax, Vinylmax Hamilton, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester photos, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Chief Erik Niehaus, West Chester Police Department

The West Chester Police Department will offer a free self-defense class from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 9. According to a release, the class is designed to encourage individuals to be prepared and confident when faced with a potentially dangerous confrontation.

The class is offered at the police department on Beckett Road. Participants should dress comfortably in order to participate fully in the class.

The police department offers free self-defense classes throughout the year.

The classes are free. To register or for more information, call 759-7254.

For other classes offered by West Chester University programs, visit WestChesterOH.org.

Posted in: Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: self-defense training, self-defense training West Chester, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department, West Chester University

West Chester Township recently reached a settlement with a Blanchester man, paying him $265,000 for a May 2012 incident in which township police repeatedly hit him with batons at a West Chester bar.

Surveillance video of the incident was released to the media in June. It showed three officers approaching Jeremy Lewis, 29, on the deck of Win, Place or Show Sports Bar & Grill in West Chester Township about 2:30 a.m. May 6.

When the video was released, West Chester Police Chief Erik Niehaus explained his officers’ actions.

According to Niehaus, Lewis was suspected of being involved in an altercation earlier at the bar. Niehaus said Lewis took a “fighting stance to the officers” and refused their orders. The officers struck Lewis with their batons and used chemical irritants to subdue him.

Lewis faced three assault charges, as well as charges of obstructing official business and resisting arrest, but a Butler County grand jury declined to indict him.

As part of the agreement, which was signed by Lewis on Nov. 30, neither he nor his attorneys are allowed to comment on the incident.

The officers involved, Randall Farris, Paul Lovell and Gary Gabbard, remained on duty after the incident. West Chester Township spokeswoman Barb Wilson said all three officers were cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation.

Posted in: Crime, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Erik Niehaus, Jeremy Lewis, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Chief Erik Niehaus, West Chester Police Department

Suspect, seen above, allegedly followed a woman into West Chester gas station then grabbed her butt and left. Photo provided.

The West Chester Police Department is trying to identify a man who grabbed a woman’s butt at a local gas station.

Suspect’s vehicle. Provided.

According to the report, the woman told police that she was followed into the Sunoco located at 7424 Tylersville Road in West Chester. While there, she had her back turned towards the suspect as he walked past and grabbed her butt.

The suspect left in a gray or silver-colored SUV, most likely a Cadillac Escalade or Chevy Suburban with dark-colored custom wheels.

The suspect is wanted for sexual imposition.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. All calls are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

People can also contact the West Chester Police Department, 9577 Beckett Road Suite 500, by calling 513-777-2231 or 513-759-7266. West Chester detective Dave Mize provided the report to Crime Stoppers.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, West Chester Ohio crime, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

Suspect, who may have stolen a credit card in West Chester, is seen here walking into Staples. Photo provided.

Another photo of the suspect. Provided.

According to Crime Stoppers, West Chester Township detectives said that a stolen credit card was used to purchase gifts on Jan. 27, 2013.

The credit card was initially taken from a vehicle at LA Fitness located at Tylersville and I-75.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. All calls are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

People can also contact the West Chester Police Department, 9577 Beckett Road Suite 500, by calling 513-777-2231 or 513-759-7266. West Chester detective Tim Mintkenbaugh provided the report to Crime Stoppers.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, West Chester Ohio crime, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department