Ryan Lang

Ryan Lang

Tuesday, 28 February 2017 10:29

Gas Leak Linked To Deadly Medina Explosion

The State Fire Marshal's Office has confirmed that the cause of the Medina Village Apartments explosion that lead to a fire was related to a gas leak in the building.

The explosion and subsequent fire the morning of February 9th left 18-year-old Jacob Drake, and later his mother Sheila, dead. Jacob was bed-ridden and suffered from autism. His father was also badly injured in the fire. Sheila died at Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland 11 days after the incident.

Kelly Stincer, Public Information Officer for the Fire Marshal, said, "This is not the final determination of the cause; they just know that the two are related." 

Following the explosion, inspections of the other units in the Medina Village Apartments revealed 63 other gas leaks in the complex that houses 100 apartments.

The investigation is ongoing.

 

Monday, 27 February 2017 12:12

OH Report: 126 Non-Citizen Voters Since 2011

A new report released Monday shows since Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted took office in 2011, 821 non-citizen voters have been identified in Ohio, and 126 of them have actually voted in elections. 

Eighty-two of these non-citizen voters cast ballots in one election alone. 

Husted said that those who have illegally cast ballots in elections have been or will be referred to law enforcement. As for those who are illegally registered, but haven't voted, they will be notified and given 30 days to cancel their registrations or face penalties under the state law. 

Husted reinforced that voter fraud in the state is rare. There are nearly 7.9 million registered voters in Ohio, with roughly 5.6 million of them casting ballots in the last election. 

Friday, 24 February 2017 11:33

Summa Names Interim CEO

Amid fallout from Summa's decision to change ER doctor providers at the New Year, and following the resignation of Dr. Thomas Malone, the health system announced Friday that Dr. Cliff Deveny will take over as interim President and CEO, effective March 13, 2017. 

Dr. Deveny is a former senior leader at Summa, and according to a press release is "absolutely expected" to be among those considered to hold the position permanently. 

Most recently, Dr. Deveny comes to Summa from Locus Health in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he served as president. His focus was on software as a means to support population health efforts, according to a report from Crains

Summa Health has been the target of severe backlash and concern for patient care and effectiveness. Efforts are being made locally on behalf of the Summa Health Board of Directors and politicians, including Akron City Councilwoman Tara Mosely-Samples, among others. 

The Summa board says Dr. Deveny will hold the position while they take the next "three to six months" to find a permanent replacement. 

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and City Council President Marilyn Keith released a statement, saying, in part, "As community partners, we must commit to offering Dr. Deveny the support, confidence, and assistance he will need to lead this great institution through this transition and into its next chapter. It is our responsibility to be part of the solution. We have full confidence that if we roll up our sleeves and get to work, we can heal relationships, both internal to Summa and within the larger community. We look forward to working with Dr. Deveny to create new jobs, invest in our City, and improve the overall health and wellbeing of our residents.”

Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro also reacting, calling the move "exciting and positive news for our county's largest employer." 

Thursday, 23 February 2017 06:18

Akron PD Looking For B&E Suspects

Akron Police looking for a group that broke into the Community Builder Incorporated at 212 East North St. February 20th about 7 o'clock that evening.

They got away with some checks after breaking in through the back door. They were caught on surveillance video (below).

Anyone with information is asked to call Akron Police. 

 

Wednesday, 22 February 2017 09:32

APD Arrest Suspect In Girlfriend's Murder

Akron Police have arrested Duane M. Lucas, 29, of Akron in the murder of 31-year-old Brittany Littlejohn. 

Police responded to a call about an argument and shots fired in the 2500 block of Romig Road, at the Woods Apartment Complex, about 10:40 a.m. Tuesday. There they found Littlejohn dead on arrival and they're investigating the incident as a homicide. She was found on an outside patio with several shots to the abdomen.  

A warrant was issued for Lucas who police caught up with around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of North Howard Street in Akron. He's been charged with Littlejohn's murder. 

Wednesday, 22 February 2017 09:12

Body In Chippewa Lake ID'd As Bryon Macron

Update: Wednesday evening, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner positively identified the body that was found in Chippewa Lake Tuesday afternoon as that of missing Lafayette Township trustee Bryon Macron. 

No cause of death has been determined yet. 

Macron's family has been identified. 

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A kayaker found a body in Chippewa Lake Tuesday afternoon, about 2:30. 

Frank Webber told Channel 3 News that it looked like that of a middle-aged man with brown hair. Webber said the body was water logged and the feet were just touching the bottom of the lake. 

The body has been taken to Medina County Coroner and authorities are awaiting a positive identification. 

Chippewa Lake is where the car of missing Lafayette Township trustee Bryon Macron was parked after he went missing on December 16th. Investigators have had very little to go on since Macron was reported missing, aside from his office that was trashed and his car parked at the lake. 

Blood was found both in the office and in the vehicle, but police have no other leads. 

Tuesday, 21 February 2017 11:14

Free Admission, Weather Lands Thousands At Zoo

The Akron Zoo had planned their "free admission day" months ahead of Presidents Day 2017. There is no way they could have predicted the unseasonably high temperatures Akron for Monday. 

With the combination of free admission, kids off of school for the holiday, and 61 degrees for the high locally, it made for a near-record for attendance at the Akron Zoo. 

"Yesterday we had our second-largest attendance in the history of the Zoo; and we were only open for five hours. We had 7,300 people show up at the Akron Zoo," Dave Barnhardt with the zoo told 1590 WAKR. 

The attendance was second to last year's record-setting day when the zoo hosted "Boo at the Zoo" last October. when we also saw unseasonably warm temperatures. 

The zoo posted to their Facebook page just before 1 p.m., that they would be closing early and would update the status on whether or not they would reopen. By 4 p.m., the zoo's regular closing time, there was no status update. Mary from Akron called our newsroom around the same time saying that the line of cars was spilling out on to Copley Road at Edgewood Avenue. By the time her group had gotten near the zoo entrance, they were told by a police officer that they had to turn back; that the zoo wasn't letting any more people in. 

 

Tuesday, 21 February 2017 10:19

Shooting Near U of A Campus

University of Akron Police are investigating a shooting just off campus along South Adolph Avenue, just east of campus and Route 8. 

According to the police report, the shooting happened Monday afternoon about 1:15. One 26-year-old male victim was shot in the foot and transported to Summa Akron City Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police say the victim hasn't been cooperative with them and hasn't provided a suspect description. 

The only thing police know is that a male suspect fled the scene on foot, running through backyards toward campus. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Akron PD or University of Akron PD. 

Tuesday, 21 February 2017 09:00

U.S. Marshals Looking For Hudson Man

 

Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is the offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of fugitive Raymond Gates. 

Gates is wanted by U.S. Marshals and Summit County Sheriff's Office on a rape charge. He's accused of raping an elderly woman near her Northfield Center home earlier in February. A warrant was issued for his arrest on February 10th. He is listed as a white male standing 6 feet tall, and weighing about 200 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. His last known address is in Hudson, Ohio. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED to 847411. Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available. 

Monday, 20 February 2017 12:00

Woman Arrested On Motorized Shopping Cart

Bath Police officers responded to a call of a woman operating a motorized shopping cart down the middle of N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. about 10:20 Sunday night. 

According to a Bath PD Facebook post, Officer A. Chapman arrested 33-year-old Melissa Bradley after she pulled into a nearby Lowe's parking lot. It was later determined that the cart came from a nearby Acme grocery store. 

Bradley, from Warren, was charged with fifth degree felony theft. She's booked in Summit County Jail. Police say alcohol was a factor. 

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