3/5/19 – 10:31 A.M.

State Highway Patrol troopers made 29 felony arrests along highways in Hancock County last year. That’s according to numbers recently released by the State Patrol. Findlay Post Commander Lt. Matt Crow says they’re able to make arrests because troopers are always looking for signs of other crimes during a traffic stop.

Crow says, “By looking for criminal indicators during a traffic stop, troopers are able to keep illegal items, such as drugs, out of our communities.”

Statewide, the State Patrol saw a 197 percent increase in meth busts during traffic stops. Arrests for fentanyl were up 151 percent.

3/5/19 – 7:17 A.M.

Former Allen County Sheriff Sam Crish has pleaded guilty to taking bribes from people arrested in prostitution and gambling stings. The Associated Press reports Crish appeared in federal court Monday. He now faces up to 15 years in prison.

Investigators say Crish extorted nearly $100,000 from five people between 2012 and 2016. Crish allegedly helped others avoid charges in exchange for cash.

Crish resigned in 2017 following an FBI raid at the Allen County sheriff’s office.

3/5/19 – 6:56 A.M.

Carey is looking for bids to rebuild the village’s wastewater treatment plant once again. Previous bids for the project were above the engineer’s estimate for the project. The original project estimate was $9 million, but the closest bid was $11.4 million.

A review showed that the engineering estimate was low because of rising material costs. The new estimate is $10.1 million. A bid opening is scheduled for 2 p.m. March 25 in Carey Council chambers.

MORE: Downtown Carey facade improvement program underway.

3/5/19 – 5:33 A.M.

The Ohio Supreme Court will hear arguments about a case stemming from Putnam County this week. WLIO-TV reports the highest court in the state will have to determine if the county can charge Travis Soto with murder for the death of his son in 2006.

At the time Soto said he accidentally hit his 2-year-old son with an ATV. He pleaded guilty to child endangerment and served five years in prison. However, after he got out, he told detectives he beat his son to death. Prosecutors moved to charge him with murder, but Soto’s lawyer says that amounts to double jeopardy.

A Putnam County judge ruled that case could move forward, but the Third District Court of Appeals overturned the decision.

MORE: WLIO

3/5/19 – 5:03 A.M.

A Columbus man will spend 14 years in prison for killing his infant daughter in Hancock County in 2017. Judge Jonathan Starn sentenced 23-year-old Austin Hammond Monday. Hammond pleaded guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the death of 8-month-old Elaina Hammond in November of 2017. He originally faced a murder charge.

Hammond also pleaded guilty to a tampering with evidence charge. Prosecutor Phil Riegel says his office consulted with law enforcement and health professionals about the agreement before moving forward with the plea deal.

MORE: History of the case.