HAMILTON — A Hamilton mother continues to search for her daughter and needs more volunteer searchers.

Kara Hyde went missing in December. She was last seen at her mother’s house in Hamilton. Since her disappearance, Kara’s mother, Lisa Hyde, has been organizing searches to look for her daughter.

“We got to keep continuing these searches because she has to be found,” Lisa said.

A group of searchers met outside Jay’s Furniture Sunday Morning and then drove to the search location.

“Gets harder everyday, everyday she’s gone, I miss her more and I need to find her. There’s urgency that I have to find her,” she said.

During a search in January, organized by Kara’s family, searchers found a bag of Kara’s clothes but no sign of Kara.

“She was a force, she was very animated, very outgoing, enthusiastic, sweet, artistic, creative, kind, she had a heart of gold,” Lisa said.

She added to keep the search parties going, she needs more volunteers.

“Been looking everywhere for volunteer searches because with the weather breaking and the case being so old I’m losing quite a bit of searchers,” she said.

Lisa is doing everything she can to find her daughter her such as, creating and hanging flyers, visiting places Kara has been to, talking with people Kara knew, and turning Kara’s car into a mobile billboard. She believes Kara will be found by either investigators or volunteer searchers.

Kara Hyde is 5-foot-6 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds with dirty blond hair.

If you have information about Kara Hyde’s whereabouts, call Hamilton police at 513-868-5811.

HAMILTON, Ohio —

A Hamilton police sergeant was in court to face charges after he swerved left of center and crashed into an oncoming vehicle Friday night.

Casey Johnson, 40, appeared in court by video from the Butler County jail.

Johnson was on the Hamilton force since 2004. He was recently promoted from detective to sergeant but is now on administrative leave.

It all came after a bizarre series of events that started in the Ross High School parking lot after a football game. Investigators said Johnson got into an altercation and then left. Later in the evening, he was involved in the crash.

Butler County sheriff’s deputies said Johnson swerved left of center and hit an oncoming vehicle head-on.

After the crash, deputies put Johnson in the back of a cruiser. Investigators said Johnson kicked the cruiser's door so hard it broke off pieces. He is charged with vandalism.

Johnson refused an alcohol test and has not been charged with OVI. That could change if investigators have any other evidence that he had been driving under the influence.

The woman in the other vehicle is Laura Farnsworth, who lives near the crash scene.

“I can’t walk without crutches right now. I can’t put any weight on my left leg,” Farnsworth said.

In court, Johnson asked to be released without paying a bond.

“If I could request an O.R. (own recognizance) bond. I have no criminal history whatsoever. I’ve resided in Butler County for over 15 years I’ve been employed at the same place for over 15 years,” Johnson said.

Johnson was released on his own recognizance and is to appear back in court Sept. 22.

COLLEGE CORNER, Ohio —

Human remains found in Hueston Woods are believed to be those of a man missing for more than two years.

Michael McKenney, 28, was last seen May 23, 2020. Investigators said there are strong indicators he has now been found.

“I'm totally not quitting until he's positively identified,” said McKenney’s mother Yolanda Middleton. “I'm a fighter. I'm not a quitter and I'm not going to quit until I know for certain, but everything points to that it is him.”

Texas Equisearch, Christian Aid Ministries and other volunteers have continued searching and Wednesday they made the discovery in a remote part of Hueston Woods.

“It's almost like you're going through the whole process over again, to be honest, from day one,” Middleton said. “I didn't know if we'd ever, ever come to this day.”

The family said there were some of McKenney’s personal effects found with the remains and some specific physical characteristics were the same.

“There were some things definitely strongly suggesting that it was him,” said Fairfield Township Police Sgt. Brandon McCroskey.

McCroskey said the cause of death could come with the coroner’s report, but so much time has passed, it could also be undetermined.

The case is in such early stages police cannot yet rule out foul play, however, there are no obvious indicators that anyone else was involved.

“I will say that we're not looking for anybody right now. We're not looking for any suspects at this point,” McCroskey said.

The identity will be confirmed by DNA. That could take weeks or even months to get back.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio —

Another shoe has dropped in the investigation of suspected abuse at Hillcrest Academy.

Hamilton County and Juvenile Court announced Wednesday afternoon they will end their contractual ties to Rite of Passage, which runs the treatment program for at-risk youth at Hillcrest.

The decision comes in the wake of allegations that surfaced within the past few days from a worker there.

An investigation is underway into whether a female staff member sexually assaulted at least one student.

There was an emergency Juvenile Court meeting about it over the weekend.

According to a joint statement this afternoon from Hamilton County Juvenile Court and Hamilton County Job and Family Services, "On Saturday, HCJC held an emergency shelter hearing to remove all 12 of the children the Court placed at Hillcrest. HCJFS is also in the process of relocating its residents. In addition, the County Administrator and the Administrative Judge have given notice that it intends to terminate its contract with Rite of Passage."

The statement mentioned there were 50 current residents at Hillcrest.

A dozen were placed there by Juvenile Court, six by Jobs and Family Services.

The rest of the residents were sent to Hillcrest by other entities from out of state.

Neither Hamilton County leaders nor anyone from Juvenile Court would say anything further about the separation, referring all questions to the Hamilton County Prosecutor.

As for the criminal investigation, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office said there is nothing new to release at this time.

HAMILTON, Ohio — Local organizations are hosting a gun buyback event in Hamilton Saturday in an effort to curb gun violence.

Any unwanted guns, knives and ammunition will be accepted at the St. Paul Miracle Center, located at 630 S. Front St. The event will run between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

No questions will be asked and gift cards will be distributed to those who make drop offs.

The event is hosted by Street Rescue, HYPE and the Community Action Committee.

The organizations are hoping this event brings in community guns. Community guns are weapons illegally stored in public places for people to use anonymously.

“This is a time for people to stand up. If you know of these types of weapons that are stashed community guns, if you know people that may know of it, this is your point and your opportunity to stand up for your community that you love,” said HYPE Hamilton’s CEO Pastor Shaquila “Shaq” Matthews.

Organizers said collected guns will be taken to a licensed gun dealer if they’re in working condition. Broken guns will be safely discarded.

The work is personal for Matthews. Her brother was shot and killed in Hamilton nearly six years ago.

“I understand the pain, and the impact that it has on a family,” she said.

This is the fourth time the organizations have hosted a gun buyback event in Hamilton.

So far, they have collected more than a dozen weapons and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.

HAMILTON, Ohio —

A nurse from Hamilton said she and her family will be spending their first Christmas without her husband.

He died from COVID-19 at just 37 years old, earlier this year.

Christina Jewett said her late husband, Paul Jewett, 37, was unable to get a vaccine before he got sick.

It has been an incredibly hard year for the family.

Last month, they shared a Thanksgiving unlike any before and now, Christmas won't be the way they imagined.

"It's weird to picture from the beginning of the year to now. You picture you're going to have your family together for holidays, you know, dad's going to be there," Christina Jewett said.

But this Christmas, Jewett's life is very different.

We talked with her earlier this year after her husband died from COVID-19 in April.

She said the father of five had no underlying conditions.

"I didn't imagine I'd be wrapping the presents alone or any of that, you know, having to get the tree together was really hard because it was one of our traditions," she said.

Jewett is making sure she shows her sons pictures of their dad as she pulls together the strength to do it all.

She also welcomed their new baby boy to the world this year after Paul died.

"Benny's great. He's 8 months old now. He just started crawling and standing all at the same time, but he's been absolutely the light of everything," she said.

Jewett is also a nurse and sometimes shares her husband's story when patients have doubts about the vaccines.

"They weren't doing under 40 when he got sick and he was only 37, so, even if he wanted to, he couldn't have got it at the time," she said.

Now, with record-breaking case numbers, she knows others may be dealing with the same loss.

She hopes her husband's story can inspire someone to get vaccinated and keep a family intact.

"The biggest lesson I've had to learn this year is that life is very fragile and very short," she said.

Jewett said since her husband's death, she has made friends online in social media groups that help people with loss and grief.

Those friendships have transcended the internet.

She said at least one of those new friends will be spending Christmas with her family this year.

Jewett said it's important that people never stop praying in these situations.

She also said it's good to lean into your support system when dealing with loss.

HAMILTON, Ohio — An Indiana man is facing multiple charges for allegedly raping a Miami University student in January 2006. The arrest involved coupling DNA with forensic genealogy.

Lloyd Wendell Ailes, 58, was taken into custody on Thursday in Connersville, Indiana, by Ohio law enforcement, including Butler County Prosecutor’s Investigator Paul Newton, according to Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.

Ailes was arraigned on Friday morning by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth, who set bond at $775,000. He is scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 6 for a pretrial hearing.

Ailes, who was a construction worker in Oxford in 2006, was indicted on Thursday afternoon by a Butler County grand jury for rape, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery. All charges carry a gun specification alleging a gun was used in the crimes.

The assault occurred on Jan. 9, 2006, at an off-campus house, according to the indictment and Gmoser. The suspect wore a mask, but his face was visible to the woman for a brief time and a sketch of the suspect was made. His DNA was also found at the scene. After forcing the victim to commit several sex acts, Ailes took $60 from her purse, Gmoser said.

In March 2006, a similar attack happened in Fayette County, Indiana. DNA collected there matched the DNA in the Oxford case, but there was no match to DNA entered in any law enforcement data base. The case went cold.

During the arraignment hearing, Gmoser said Ailes wore a mask in the Indiana assault, but “didn’t speak a word,” because the victim was known to him and his voice would have been recognizable.

Gmoser said Newton and his office have been working for years with experts to track down the suspect using genealogy DNA data bases piecing together a family tree of the suspect.

“And we finally did,” Gmoser said.

He said he will be prosecuting the case himself, along with Assistant Prosecutor Lindsay Sheehan.

“The science of this investigation is fascinating,” Gmoser said.

HAMILTON — At just 10 years old, Naomi Short has gone up against a lot: a rare form of brain cancer, COVID-19 and now rehab. Still, she continues to push forward with joy.

Short was diagnosed with stage four pineoblastoma in 2019 when doctors found a series of tumors in her brain and spinal cord. She faced cancer head-on, looking at everything with a thankful heart.

"Guess what my nurse said? That I do better [in radiation] than most adults," Short said in 2019.

The Hamilton resident's personality shone through every step of the way. Multiple surgeries later, Short's brain is cancer-free. Doctors continue to watch her spine, and her mother Melissa said they have not seen any growth in past tests.

Short will stay at Cincinnati Children's for a month with the hope of rehabbing to walk again.

"One thing I'm so happy about is that I'm still here on this earth and I can be with my family — I'm having so much fun this year," Short said. "I'm getting ready to go back to the hospital for rehab."

Short's next MRI is scheduled for Dec. 1. Until then, her family said their focus is on celebrating the holiday season.

"Happy Thanksgiving everyone," Short said.

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HAMILTON — In this week's edition of Pet Pals, we meet Turbo at the Animal Adoption Foundation in Hamilton.

Mark Murphy, volunteer and board member at Animal Adoption Foundation, said Turbo is a male hound mix and is almost a year and a half old.

And Turbo's name fits him —- he has high energy.

"He's definitely going to need exercise. He's going to need to be able to run and walk and play. He really cannot go to a home with little kids though. Because of his high energy and sometimes he's a little mouthy but not in a mean way. He's just not going to be suitable for kids," Murphy said.

Murphy said Turbo needs a place with a big yard and a high-energy family.

Turbo was an owner surrender. A family was bringing a new baby home and they felt they could not give Turbo the attention, and the exercise, he needed.

Murphy also mentioned Turbo is not tolerant of cats.

If you are interested in meeting Turbo, you can submit an application. The online application can be found at www.aafpets.org.

You can also call the foundation at 1-513-737-PETS.

HAMILTON — On this week's edition of Pet Pals, we meet AJ at the Animal Adoption Foundation in Hamilton.

AJ is just an acronym: Mark Murphy, with the Animal Adoption Foundation, said AJ stands for Action Jackson.

AJ is an Irish Wolfhound mix. Murphy said they do not know what he is mixed with, but knows with certainty there is some Irish Wolfhound in him.

He is one and a half years old and has been at the foundation since May.

"He is a very sweet boy but he is a bit dog reactive. So, he really probably needs to be the only dog in the home," Murphy said.

AJ loves people and Murphy said as far as they know, he is fine with cats.

Murphy said while AJ is great with kids, parents need to kind of watch out because of his size and his energy levels. He might accidentally knock over a toddler.

Another area the perspective adopter needs to know is how smart AJ is — he might even be too smart for his own good.

"He knows how to climb chain-link fences and get out and that may be how he originally got out and became a stray to begin with," Murphy said.

AJ can also unlatch his kennel door, Murphy said the staff at the foundation had to install a loop-shaped metal lock to keep him from escaping.

Despite those quirks, Murphy said AJ is a sweet boy.

"He's smart, he's protective and he's sweet," Murphy said.

So, if you want AJ to be a part of your forever home, you can visit www.aafpets.org and submit an online application.

If you want to learn more about AJ, call the foundation at 1-513-737-PETS.

WLWT viewers gave from their hearts, and it's making a difference.This week, WLWT introduced you to Randy Bowling of Hamilton. Bowling is disabled, and his bicycle is his only form of transportation to and from work at Walmart in Fairfield Township.Last weekend, his bicycle was stolen."Your news story was barely over on the TV. I was watching it when my phone started ringing," said David Hood, executive director of Serve City. "I knew immediately this had struck a cord ... That line that Randy said, 'This made my life harder,' it was the big thing that struck me, and I think people heard that and said this is not OK. We need to do something." Serve City is the organization that owns the apartments where Bowling lives.Knowing Bowling was taken care of thanks to generous gifts from WLWT viewers, Hood created a way for people to help others like Bowling."This is probably not the first time this has happened, and unfortunately, might not be the last time it happens, and so we are setting up a fund called a 'Bike Matching Fund,' Hood said.They're collecting bicycles, or preferably money, to offer residents as a matching fund."So, if they're able to come up with $50, we'll match $50 dollars for them to get a bike," Hood said. "Bikes around here are a major source of transportation for employment, for doctors appointments, for therapy, for addiction recovery, all of those things, getting around to those things are critical to our residents." Donations can be made here. Any donations that include "BIKE" in the memo will go toward bicycles and locks to those in need of transportation.https://www.classy.org/give/313609/#!/donation/checkout

HAMILTON, Ohio —

With his laces tied tightly, Randy Bowling said he's ready to walk to work if he has to.

The nearly four-mile trek each way — from his apartment in Hamilton to Walmart in Fairfield Township — isn't ideal for the 50-year-old, who is also disabled. Bowling suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was 16.

That's one of the reasons he bought a $157 bicycle a few months ago.

"It's the first bike I ever bought myself," Bowling said.

He was proud of it. Now, it's gone.

It was stolen from outside Party Mart Express in Hamilton Saturday night.

Store security video shows Bowling walking his bike close to the front doors after his shift at Walmart.

He's in the East Avenue store for less than a minute before a man rides up on another bike, grabs Bowling's bicycle and rides off with it.

Bowling walks out in disbelief.

"He's made my life harder," Bowling said.

Bowling lives alone at the Serve City apartments. He said he needs his job to pay bills, and the bus isn't always an option.

"When we had heard, it just broke our hearts. Our residents struggle with so many other life issues, to have something like this happen is a real challenge," said David Hood, executive director of Serve City.

Neighbor Brenda Stevens called what happened unacceptable in her neighborhood.

"It's just aggravating. I don't know why people do it. It's selfish," Stevens said.

Other neighbors have expressed frustration and support.

"There's a lot of people that care. If I had a bike, I'd give it to him," said neighbor Andrew Yeager.

Bowling said even though he should be angry, he'd rather talk to the guy who snatched his bike and help him get a job.

HAMILTON, Ohio — Concerts at the RiversEdge amphitheater in downtown Hamilton will resume on July 4, with varying degrees of social distancing, according to the Journal-News.

People willing to pay more for the outdoor shows can have more social distancing for themselves and their friends, while those wanting to economize can have less space.

More concert announcements will come soon, Helms said, including two bands joining the July 4 lineup. Two bands also haven’t been announced yet for Aug. 15.

Under the city’s plan, the city will have 8-foot-by-8-foot squares — the size of two pieces of plywood next to each other — spaced eight feet apart.

Originally, the city planned to limit each square to four people, each sitting at a corner of the square, Helms said. But: “Based on some of the feedback we received on social media, some people were concerned about the cost.”

“We intended to sell the squares for $40 to $100 per square, depending on who’s playing,” he said.

If nine people are in an 8-by-8-foot square, they are sitting immediately next to each other’s chairs, Helms said, showing a photo of people sitting in chairs in such a square.

“We believe that it’s feasible to put nine people in an 8-by-8 square for a variety of reasons, the biggest one being it increases our capacity, it allows more people to attend, and it also brings down the cost of admission,” Helms said.

Whereas a family of four might have had to pay $10 apiece for a show where a square costs $40, if there are nine people, the per-person cost drops to $4.44.

“This is our best effort to bring live music to Hamilton in some form or fashion,” Helms said.

HAMILTON, Ohio — In what has been a difficult year for most people, a Hamilton barbershop is working to put smiles on the faces of kids and their families.

Plush Cuts Barbershop, located in the 800 block of Central Avenue, hosted its sixth annual Christmas toy drive Wednesday. A steady stream of people came into the shop and picked out toys.

Owner Shawn Jarrett said this is the barbershop's biggest toy drive yet.

“We’ve seen a need in the community and the pandemic doesn’t help,” he said.

Jarrett, who grew up in Hamilton and has been in business since 1996, said he feels a deep connection to every kid who walks through his door.

The barbershop collected more than 500 toys, and more than 90 people showed up before noon to pick one.

“I see how hard it is for people," Jarrett said. "Some people can’t afford a haircut, so we want to give people a break.”

Fellow business owners Slim Life Ministries and Singletary Construction helped Jarrett make the toy drive a success. Dozens of Plush Cuts customers also donated to the total as the shop adopted three families this year who had special needs and requests.

“Many families asked for shoes. We even got a bike and other toys with the money," Jarrett said. "This year is bigger than last year. It grows every year and it gets better.”

CINCINNATI —

Efforts to protect and care for the most vulnerable during the pandemic expand Monday.

CVS Health will start COVID-19 vaccination efforts at long-term care facilities in 36 more states, as vaccinations have already been underway in Ohio and Kentucky.

At the same time, a man from Hamilton is pushing state lawmakers to allow family members to be essential caregivers in those facilities.

He said it has been an emotional journey he never expected, but one he said many families are faced with right now.

"It was a year this past Christmas that my mother, you know, was able to, to be in my home," Scott Reynolds said.

It was a tough holiday after an emotional year for Reynolds.

He saw his mother, Francene, 75, through the glass at Berkeley Square in Hamilton.

Reynolds said isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions caused his mother to deteriorate in the dementia wing, and that has limited her speech and what she will eat.

He said she recently beat COVID-19, but it has had a lasting impact and hospice care is now by her side.

Reynolds spoke directly to lawmakers in Columbus this month about allowing essential caregivers, such as family members, in long-term care facilities.

"Have you ever had to stand outside watching your mother cry for you and see a total stranger try to hug and console your mother? It was heart-wrenching. This is why House Bill 770 is so important," Reynolds said during a speech at the statehouse.

Reynolds has been granted a few compassionate care visits to see his mother in declining health.

He said she will be getting the COVID-19 vaccine CVS Health is administering in nursing homes.

As those health care workers try to protect residents, Reynolds continues to push for more support.

"It's probably not going to help my situation but I just, you know, I have to look ahead where it could help somebody else's mother," he said.

Reynolds said he will not be finished if House Bill 770 passes.

He said he wants to take on reforming the laws when it comes to elderly care to make those laws better, safer and to make sure everyone is more prepared in case of another pandemic.

CINCINNATI —

Destructive TikTok challenges are causing trouble in school districts across Greater Cincinnati.

We first told you about them last week.

Now, in Harrison, the Southwest Local School District said restrooms have been vandalized and students have been caught.

A spokeswoman for Cincinnati Public Schools said the TikTok troubles haven't been raised to their attention at this point, but on social media, people have said it is happening within the schools as well.

It is a bad trend in many districts, according to school leaders.

"Just a general disruption to the school setting as a result of the influence of the videos that they're viewing online," Lockland City Schools Superintendent Bob Longworth said.

Schools report water fountains damaged, soap dispensers trashed and stuff stolen.

In Boone County, eight students have been cited, and it is happening elsewhere, all for the sake of likes, comments, follows and shares.

"Basically young people all over our region and state and country are being influenced to make really poor choices, resulting in the destruction of property," Longworth said.

Longworth said the "Devious Licks" TikTok challenge is an alarming trend.

In Middletown, there are more police officers in the schools because of the viral vandalism.

"So many children right now are starting to get frustrated with this challenge in school, and they want their classmates to stop because they enjoy coming to school every day, focusing in the classroom and being able to learn," Middletown City Schools Superintendent Marlon Styles, Jr. said.

The Southwest Local School District said Harrison High School restrooms have been vandalized; students have been caught in three different incidents and two more are under investigation.

They warn that students could face charges and families could get repair bills.

Mason City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Cooper said a small group is responsible in his district.

"We have great custodians and maintenance staff that, they work hard, and so to have to come back around and continue to fix those things can be a bit frustrating," he said.

They all said it is time parents talk with their kids to buck this trend.

"It should be a challenge for all of us as parents to lean in and look at what's going on on social media with our kids," Cooper said.

In Boone County, sheriff's officials said eight students face charges including theft and criminal mischief.

Juvenile courts in Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties said no children have been charged in these kind of incidents at this time.

TikTok has confirmed it has banned all content around this trend.

CINCINNATI —

Hamilton County is the only county in Ohio to reach "purple" COVID-19 status on the statewide system on Thursday.

Officials said they believe hospitalizations are part of the reason why.

The data could also inform board members in the county's largest school district as they meet later this week to reconsider blended learning.

Saturday morning, the Cincinnati Public School Board will review the latest health data.

County officials said seeing purple means everyone should be on high alert and vigilant.

"COVID-19 is spreading in this community and we've got to tamp it down," Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said.

Hamilton County looks to be the lone ranger in the coronavirus wild west.

Driehaus said it's disappointing our county is purple on the statewide COVID-19 system.

It's the only county in the state.

"We have been saying to people, you know, while we have plateaued a little bit, we're still at really elevated levels for cases, positive cases in Hamilton County and also hospitalizations and our death rate, you know, is remaining pretty constant," Driehaus said.

The purple pronouncement comes days before CPS board members will review data to help reconsider some kind of a return to the classroom.

"There's more to the data than just purple status," Board Member Melanie Bates said.

Bates is also chair of the board's Health and Safety Committee.

"We know that the kids aren't learning remotely the way they would learn in-person, so, definitely, that's the goal," she said.

Bates said staff will return Tuesday.

She added that during Saturday's meeting, the board will consider city and county data, and they're also relying on Cincinnati Children's Hospital to review the Ohio Department of Health study regarding quarantines for close contacts.

Driehaus knows excitement about vaccines is building, even as doses are slowly trickling in, but she said don't give up now.

"We know that people still need to wear the mask, keep a distance, wash their hands," she said.

Bates said she hopes they can give some guidance to the superintendent.

She said they could also vote, but she also added that it is important they get a good look at all of the data to make safe decisions.

HAMILTON, Ohio — A man was killed early this morning in Hamilton while crossing a street near a busy intersection, according to police.

The 46-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle about 5:45 a.m. on Witt Way. The road is near railroad tracks and behind the McDonald’s on High Street and Martin King Jr. Boulevard (Route 127).

The crash remains under investigation, according to Sgt. Rich Burkhardt. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO 9 News.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A second Hamilton woman has died following a 4-car crash Sunday on Interstate 75, the Journal-News reports.

Cesere C. Traylor, 28, died of her injuries Monday afternoon, the Ohio State Highway Patrol announced. She was a passenger in a car driven by 53-year-old Sarenthia Traylor of Hamilton, who died Sunday as she was being taken to Miami Valley Hospital.

Three of the vehicles involved in the crash that happened just after noon were stationary on the side of I-75 South near Benchwood Road in Butler Twp. in Montgomery County, the patrol said in a release.

A 2015 Chevrolet Camaro and a 2020 Nissan Versa, driven by Traylor, were behind an abandoned 2002 Saturn waiting for a tow, the patrol said.

A 2012 Chrysler 300 drove onto the right shoulder and struck the Nissan in the rear.

The Versa then struck the Camaro, which caused the Camaro to strike the Saturn.

Two others were also injured, though their injuries were considered minor and not life-threatening, the patrol said.

Alcohol and drugs are not considered factors in the crash, the release said. The crash remains under investigation by OSHP.

The OSHP, Vandalia Fire and EMS, Riverside EMS, Tipp City Fire and EMS, the Vandalia Police Department, the Butler Twp. Police Department and the Ohio Department of Transportation all assisted with the crash.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO 9 News.

Most major crimes in Hamilton were down the first half of this year compared with last year and prior years, but an increase in shootings has police so concerned, they recently signed a pact with federal agencies, according to the Journal-News.

“One area that is not trending down, and in fact is headed in the wrong direction, is our aggravated assaults. That’s largely by gun violence,” said Police Chief Craig Bucheit.

Aggravated assaults through June reached at least a four-year high, largely driven by gunshot wounds. There were 72 this year, compared to 59 last year, 55 in 2019 and 69 in 2018. This year’s assaults were 18% higher than the average of the years 2018-2020.

Bucheit attributed it to gangs, and others who are known to police.

“Just last week we met with the FBI and ATF (the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives),” and a detective will be assigned to their violent-crime task force, he said. That will “bring some additional resources to our community to address these issues.”

It also will help the city bring federal charges, and longer prison sentences, to those committing the shootings, Bucheit said. Often, people committing the shootings are those who have been charged with federal crimes and leave prison after a couple of years, he said.

“This gun violence that’s occurring, it’s a relatively small number of people in our community that are responsible for the vast majority of it.”

Police recently have been in a number of chases and confrontations with people bearing loaded weapons, Bucheit said. On Friday, at around 12:40 a.m., officers responded to a shooting at 1215 S. Second St., where they found an 18-year-old woman killed and two others needing hospitalization for gunshot wounds.

“Being able to partner with federal agencies and look at addressing this by more serious charges, federal charges, which carries the potential for significantly more jail time is something we’re excited about,” Bucheit said.

Police also have assigned extra shifts of patrols in areas that have been “hot spots” for such shootings.

The FBI did not return calls for comment.

Overall crime stats through June

Other major crimes in Hamilton have generally been trending down over the past few years, according to data the Journal-News requested of the police.

“What you see is a pretty substantial decline across the board, in all categories of crime,” Bucheit said. He credited work by police to build relationships with citizens in all neighborhoods as one reason, because it helps them better deal with crimes residents are seeing.

Here are other crime statistics:

• Murders were steady this year compared to prior years: 2 this year, with 2 every year from 2018 through 2020.
• Sex offenses were down 44% this year from the prior three-year average: 22 this year, compared with 28 in 2018, 46 in 2019, 43 in 2020.
• Robberies were down 31% from the three-year average: 32 this year, 68 in 2018, 39 in 2019, 32 in 2020.
• Drug and narcotic offenses were down 37%: 285 this year, compared with 488 in 2018, 486 in 2019, 387 in 2020. Bucheit said he did not believe a loosening in Ohio marijuana laws was a reason for that decrease.
• Kidnapping was down significantly: 5 this year compared with 14 in 2018, 18 in 2019, 8 in 2020.
• Larceny and theft offenses were down 27% from earlier years: 603 this year, compared with more than 800 each of the prior three years.
• Burglaries and breaking-and-entering also were down 33% from the earlier three years, with 159 this year compared with 197-275 each of the prior years.
• Motor vehicle thefts were down 9% from the three-year average, with 112 this year, compared with 99 in 2018, 137 in 2019, 132 in 2020.
• Drug overdoses were down 39% from the three-year average, with 164 this year, 258 in 2018, 312 in 2019, 235 in 2020.

Tense encounters with gun-toters

Just in the past couple of weeks, Bucheit said, Hamilton officers were involved in two incidents where they were chasing suspects.

“The officers were out doing exactly what we want,” he said. “They were checking these areas and looking for people that were potentially involved in some of this violence. They ended up locating these subjects, who take off running. They’re armed, and they’re in the process of taking these guns out while the officers are chasing them.

“This is a very dangerous situation, especially for our officers.”

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70’S WITH SCATTERED STORMBYS MORNING. COURTIS: THANK YOU. NEW TONIGHT, THE HAMILTON WEST ASIDE A-SLLTARS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. CELEBRATING ANOTHER WIN AGAINST SOUTH DAKOTA. BRANDON SAHO TELLING US HOW THE COMMUNITY IS REACTING. BRANDON: IT WAS FUN TO WATCH TODAY. IT WAS A HUGE DAY FOR THE HAMILTON WEST SIDE ALL-STARS OVER IN WILLIAMSPORT. OUR HOMETOWN TEAM GETTING THE WIN. AND THEY NEW BECOME THE FIRST OHIO LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM TO PYLA IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP .GA WHILE THE BOYS GOT IT DONE ON THE FIELD IN WILLIAMSPT,OR WINNING 5-2 OVER SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS WAS THE SCENE BACK HOME HERE IN HAMILTON AS DOZENS CHEERED ON THE WEST SIDE ALL-STARS AT THE MUNICIPAL BREW WORKS PATIO. THE CROWD CHEERING ON THEIR TEAM TO VICTORY ONCE AGAIN TODAY DAN NOW THEY GET TO DO IT ONE MORE TIME IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TOMORROW. >> I’M JUST BLOWNWAY. A I’M A HAMILTON RESIDENT SO I LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE STREETSO, IT’S JUST BEEN A GRTEA EX PERIENCE TO COME HERE AND JUST WATCH THE COMMUNITY COME TOGEERTH. AND JU FORST MY SCHOOL, IT'’ BEING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENTS EVERY MOINRNG, IT IS SO EXCITING. BRANDON: WHAT A CLOO SCENEN I HAMILTON. WE’LL HAVE ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BIG WIN COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES IN SPORTS. AS THE HAMILTON WEST SEID

Hamilton West Side All-Stars finish runner-up at LLWS

The team lost to Michigan 5-2 in the final Sunday.

Updated: 9:01 PM EDT Aug 29, 2021

An incredible Little League World Series run for the Hamilton West Side All-Stars has come to an end.The team lost to Michigan 5-2 Sunday, making them the runner-up in the series.The group is the first Ohio Little League team to play in the LLWS championship game.The Hamilton community has proudly watched the All-Stars throughout the series. Fans gathered in Municipal Brew Works and The Casual Pint in Hamilton for several watch parties to cheer on the hometown team.

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. —

An incredible Little League World Series run for the Hamilton West Side All-Stars has come to an end.

The team lost to Michigan 5-2 Sunday, making them the runner-up in the series.

The group is the first Ohio Little League team to play in the LLWS championship game.

The Hamilton community has proudly watched the All-Stars throughout the series. Fans gathered in Municipal Brew Works and The Casual Pint in Hamilton for several watch parties to cheer on the hometown team.