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State Briefing

Patrol opens K-9 training facility

MARYSVILLE — The State Highway Patrol has opened its statewide training facility for police dogs used by the patrol and other law enforcement agencies in Ohio. The $1.4 million facility formally opened Monday in Marysville in central Ohio. The site feature classrooms, offices, dorms, kennels and a training building. It will be used to train new dogs and handlers for the patrol and other departments, as well as for required ongoing training. The patrol has trained 43 dogs since its training program started in 2015, including 31 for the patrol and 12 for other agencies. Officials say the facility in Marysville was funded by appropriations in the Ohio Department of Public Safety capital budget Patrol spokesman Lt. Robert Sellers says the facility is the first of its kind in the Midwest.

Inmate escapes from jail van

MIDDLETOWN — An inmate at a community corrections center here has escaped from a vehicle that was transporting him back to the facility after hospital treatment. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office’s statement says a corrections center employee was taking 33-year-old Robert Moman back to the facility in Turtlecreek Township from a hospital in Middletown when Moman escaped the vehicle at a traffic light shortly after midnight Sunday. Authorities described Moman as having blue eyes and brown hair and wearing khaki pants and a gray shirt with “CCC” printed on the back. He was seen running north from the hospital in Middletown. Moman was serving time for domestic violence.

Judge wants zoo to solve dispute

CINCINNATI — A judge has ordered the Cincinnati Zoo and a conservatory to resolve a custody dispute over a gorilla loaned as a companion to the late Koko, who was famous for mastering sign language. U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg recommended out-of-court mediation Monday, writing that the zoo and The Gorilla Foundation appear to value what’s best for the 37-year-old silverback gorilla named Ndume. The organizations have until Thursday to submit a joint proposal. The zoo sued in October for Ndume’s return. The gorilla was loaned to the California-based foundation in 1991 under a contract revised to guarantee his transfer after Koko’s death. Zoo officials claim Ndume has since lived in isolation to his detriment. The foundation says a transfer would harm him and pose unnecessary risk.

Cop writes ticket, posts message

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — A police officer in a Cleveland suburb posted a message on social media after ticketing an 18-year-old for driving 100 mph in a 65 mph zone. The officer wrote on Facebook Sunday that he didn’t feel bad about writing the ticket because the teen needs to slow down before causing a fatal crash. The officer says the reckless teen driver “seemed like a really nice kid who made a bad decision.” The officer posted a photo of the ticket.

Some vice operations resume

COLUMBUS — Police in Ohio’s capital city say some vice operations are resuming as an FBI task force continues its investigation of the unit. The FBI is investigating the Columbus vice squad following the fatal shooting of a woman by a vice officer in August and what critics call the politically motivated arrest of porn actress Stormy Daniels in July. The police division’s Tim Becker tells the Columbus Dispatch a group of officers will immediately begin work on such issues as liquor complaints and nuisance calls at after-hours clubs, homes and businesses. Becker says an order remains in place requiring written approval from him or Police Chief Kim Jacobs before vice detectives can go undercover in a strip club. Three vice detectives have been removed from duty during the investigation.

Suspect wants case moved

WAVERLY — Attorneys for a woman charged in the slayings of eight Ohio family members have asked a judge to move the case to a different court because of extensive publicity. The lawyers for defendant Angela Wagner also want the possibility of a death sentence dropped from the trial, calling capital punishment unconstitutional. They also asked Pike County Judge Randy Deering to allow Wagner to wear civilian clothes and to appear without restraints during court hearings. Wagner attorney Robert Krapenc says he would likely ask the judge not to rule until attempts begin to find a jury in Pike County. Wagner, her husband and their two adult sons face multiple charges in the April 2016 slayings of eight members of the Rhoden family.

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