The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that a State Highway Patrol probe into how state liquor agents gave a real person’s identity to an undercover informant could lead all the way to the Miami County prosecutor’s involvement.

From the story:

The investigation will center on how the liquor agents, who enforce Ohio’s alcohol-permit laws, came into possession of a woman’s driver’s license and how it was given to a confidential informant working for the Troy Police Department, patrol spokesman Lt. Rick Zwayer said.

Even Miami County Prosecutor Gary Nasal’s involvement could be scrutinized, Zwayer said.

Investigators "are going to look into those things," Zwayer said. "That’s part of a thorough and accurate investigation to look toward those leads, take them."

Nasal, who had helped coordinate the sting operation that eventually closed the Total Xposure nude dance club in late 2003, said he welcomed the investigation.

Perhaps Nasal is hoping for the same type of "investigation" he gave Sheriff Kevin O'Leary, in a case involving the illegal release of concealed handgun license-holders' private information.

Again, from the story:

Ohio Rep. Jim Hughes, the Columbus Republican who sponsored the 2002 change, said an amendment will be introduced today in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee clarifying when police can use a person’s identifying information.

The amendment will allow police to use a person’s information only to investigate identity theft when that person is the victim, Hughes said. The amendment also will require that law enforcement get written or verbal permission from the victim, he said.

"They can't use it in another investigation," Hughes said. "I disagree with the interpretation of the prosecutor from Troy, Ohio, and every subsequent prosecutor or law-enforcement person I've spoken with disagrees with it, too."

Related Story:
Gary Nasal's 8 mo. "investigation" yields no indictment of Sheriff O'Leary

Lorain: Police: Would-be robber shot

A would-be robber was killed and the intended victim was wounded six times when three masked and armed assailants invaded his G Street duplex just before midnight Tuesday in what police are calling a botched robbery. William Fiske, 20, who said he survived five gunshot wounds in his back and one in his arm, was treated at Community Health Partners and had been released by 5 a.m.

Darren English, 19, of Lorain, fled and collapsed a few blocks from Fiske's residence. He was pronounced dead at CHP, and police said they believe the single gunshot wound to the chest came from one of his cohorts' weapons since Fiske was unarmed.

Julian L. Smith, 19, of Lorain, and a 14-year-old local boy were found by police shortly afterward in the surrounding neighborhood and arrested. Smith has been charged with murder, police said, and the boy was also arraigned yesterday but the charges against him weren't known. ''Apparently, they got into a violent physical confrontation with Mr. Fiske,'' said police Lt. Jim Rohner, who wouldn't divulge the exact location where English's body was found or details of the others' arrests.

Fiske told a reporter that he heard knocking on a side door shortly before midnight, and when he opened it, three tall black males wearing ski masks stormed in and pushed him back into his kitchen. ''They came into the house,'' said Fiske. ''They rushed in.'' He started struggling with them, he said, and then felt pain in his back as he heard several loud ''pops.''

The three assailants then fled, Fiske said, and he called 911. Police quickly responded and were scouring the area when they found the mortally wounded English and arrested the two others. Police said three revolvers were recovered nearby. Fiske said he didn't know the attackers and they didn't say anything when they stormed in.

This man was incredibly lucky to have survived six gunshot wounds. Statistics show injuries are more likely to occur when attempting to fend off an attack with anything other than a firearm.

Columbus: Police: Shots Fired After Man Fights Off Intruders Inside Home

Police said a man who might have broken into a northeast side home checked himself into a hospital early Thursday with a gunshot wound.


According to police, a couple was inside a home on Gatewood Court with their two children when two people came into the house and started shooting. The parents of the children fought back, and police said one of the intruders was hurt, NBC 4's Elizabeth Scarborough reported. Police said a 9-month-old child was inside the home, along with a 4 ½-year-old brother. The parents, who are boyfriend and girlfriend, were in a bathroom at the time of the shooting, Scarborough reported.

Early reports indicated that the criminals entered the house through a back door and began shooting. One of them might have been wearing a security uniform, Scarborough reported. Either the boyfriend or girlfriend returned fire, Scarborough reported. One bullet went through the wall into a next-door apartment, Scarborough reported. At least one of the intruders was hurt, but they fled the home, police said. Later, a man walked into St. Anne's Hospital's emergency room with a gunshot wound. Police were investigating whether he was involved in the break-in.

There is no higher calling for a parent than to protect their children. These parents took the proper precautions by arming themselves, and when danger called, they were able to respond.

Whether for safety, skill or sport, pistol packin' mamas are everywhere

April 25, 2005
FloridaToday.com

You see them every day, shopping or dining with children, stopped at traffic lights next to you or walking alone at night through store parking lots.

Chances are, a woman you saw today was carrying a gun.

In fact, nearly 50,000 women in Florida are licensed to carry a weapon concealed on their person or in their vehicle.

Commentary:
The more stories like these are told, the more criminals will fear making an attack.

In 1966 the police in Orlando, Florida, responded to a rape epidemic by embarking on a highly publicized program to train 2,500 women in firearm use. The next year rape fell by 88 percent in Orlando (the only major city to experience a decrease that year); burglary fell by 25 percent. Not one of the 2,500 women actually ended up firing her weapon; the deterrent effect of the publicity sufficed." (Congressional Record, 90th Cong., 2d sess., January 30, 1968, p. 1496, n. 7) Five years later Orlando's rape rate was still 13 percent below the pre-program level, whereas the surrounding standard metropolitan area had suffered a 308 percent increase.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer last week appointed Justice Maureen O’Connor to head a new statewide committee to address court safety and security. The report says Moyer and O’Connor attended a national summit on the issue.

From the story:

O’Connor, who formerly headed Ohio’s Security Task Force as lieutenant governor and director of public safety, served as a panelist.

She said the new Ohio Advisory Committee on Security & Emergency Preparedness will focus on identifying best practices for courthouse security, sharing that information and implementing the practices.

Moyer, chair of the summit, said that although Ohio has been a national leader in securing its courtrooms, he appointed the advisory committee because work still needs to be done in assessing the security practices of Ohio’s courthouses, standardizing practices across the 88 counties and securing resources necessary to keep courtrooms safe.

Court and classroom safety is a subject that has drawn increased attention in recent weeks, in the wake of several high-profile shootings in places where guns are banned. A difficult lesson was learned by the nation in the Red Lake High School tragedy, where all the “feel-good” safety precautions on the world were unable to stop a determined killer.

Back here in Ohio, it’s not just the Supreme Court taking a fresh look at safety – Ohio schools have a lot on their mind as well.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

WCPO.com is reporting that there's a purse snatcher on the loose in Middletown.

Police told the news station that three women left their purses in their cars while they went to pay for their gas. When they got back to their cars someone had swiped their belongings. The incidents happened at the Gas America and the Speedway on Roosevelt on Friday.

Lieutenant Don Owens of the Middletown Police Department told WCPO "I'd think they'd probably do it again. Most importantly, don't leave valuables in the car. Don't leave your keys. Gas stations are busy. You never know who's lurking around you."

So tell us, Don, whatever are concealed handgun license (CHL)-holders to do when they arrive at a "no-guns" gas station, such as United Dairy Farmers now are, and need to go in to pay for gas?

What if they pump their gas before realizing that UDF posts signs which discriminate against CHL-holders? Ohio law requires them to leave their valuable firearm in the car - making easy pickings for criminals.

Business that ban firearms should be held liable for the consequences, including contributing to putting a stolen gun on the streets.