August 18, 2004
Fremont News Messenger

Clyde quiet on suit

By SARAH WILLIAMS
Staff writer

CLYDE -- City Council members made no movement regarding the city's stance to ban guns from Clyde parks, but discussed the issue in private session during their meeting Tuesday.

Sandusky County Common Pleas Court Judge Harry S. Sargeant granted a temporary restraining order last week that bars the city from enforcing a ban on legally concealed weapons in city parks.

The ruling was in response to a motion filed on behalf of Ohioans for Concealed Carry Inc., based in Delaware, Ohio, and James J. Stricker Jr. of Gibsonburg by L. Kenneth Hanson III, general counsel of Ohioans for Concealed Carry Inc.

The court action had been anticipated since city officials said they would not rescind the ban despite demands from the advocacy group.

The Ohio concealed carry law, which went into effect this year, lists places, including public buildings, where concealed weapons may be banned. The law does not, however, list public parks as being among those places where bans are permitted.

While the judge granted a temporary restraining order no hearing time or date had been set as of this morning for the advocacy group's request for permanent action.

Ohioans for Concealed Carry are asking for a declaration that the Clyde ordinance be declared unconstitutional and a permanent injunction against enforcement of the law against people licensed to carry concealed guns.

In granting the temporary injunction last week, Sargeant ordered that it be "operative for an initial period of 13 days or until further order" of the court.

Clyde officials have been firm that the city's ban is legal, noting that the city is a charter government.

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NOTE: Because the City of Clyde did not appear before the court to contest the restraining order, General Counsel for OFCC advises the order will be operative until further court action.

This time it's two law enforcement officers whose home addresses were obtained by the media and inappropriately published

August 18, 2004
Mt. Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — A hot button, and a somewhat confusing legal issue, was brought to the local forefront last week when the home addresses of two Mount Vernon Police officers were released in a complaint that eventually found its way into the public eye.

The complaint was part of a police misconduct lawsuit, filed on behalf of Thomas Burr, 25, and Marie Stump, 18, against the two officers and the city. The suit alleges police misconduct, including unlawful assault, unlawful arrest and unlawful imprisonment.

The officer’s addresses should not have been made available to public eyes, said Mount Vernon Police Chief Tom Bartlett.

“I’m OK with the names of the individuals involved being printed, but I don’t see where it serves any purpose to have the addresses of the officers printed,” he said. “By the nature of this job, there are a lot of people out there that might have an interest in where a law enforcement officer lives.

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August 18, 2004
Akron Beacon Journal

Rolling Acres jewelry store robbed
Shop owner complains about security after men escape with two necklaces

Akron police are investigating an armed robbery at a Rolling Acres Mall jewelry store.

Two men -- one displaying a handgun -- entered the Diamond Castle at 2400 Romig Road about 12:40 p.m. Tuesday. The robbers took two necklaces before fleeing.

The men were last seen driving a gray Jeep Cherokee with Ohio plates DEF8576.

Mike Awad, owner of the jewelry store, said he is concerned about the safety of his employees because of what he calls a lack of adequate security at the mall.

"For it to be broad daylight and for someone to come in here and feel secure enough to rob the store like that is crazy,'' Awad said. "How can two security guards protect this entire mall? No wonder no one wants to come here.... We're going to have to start carrying guns to protect ourselves.''