A Findlay man was sentenced to prison for raping a Toledo girl and selling her for sex.

The Toledo Blade is reporting that Kengi Williams was sentenced to 14 years in prison in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

The 40-year-old was planning on going to trial but decided to enter an Alford plea, in which a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but admits there’s enough evidence to convict them.

The victim left her Toledo residence after getting into an argument with her mother, and got into Williams’ vehicle.

The newspaper is reporting that investigators are searching for other people involved in the sex trafficking operation.

[WFIN] – The University of Findlay made a list of best 4-year institutions in the midwest for 2020 according to The Princeton Review.

The university reports that the rankings are based upon student survey information and data provided by the schools. University president Katherine Fell stated, “We are pleased to be included in this esteemed ranking”. She added that it is all due to the talent of the faculty, staff, and students.

UF made the list among 159 other schools.

[WFIN] – The City of Findlay Income Tax Board has decided to discontinue the practice of waiving estimated income tax payments. Mayor Christina Muryn said that they don’t need to use the practice anymore.

City auditor Jim Staschiak said he approves of the decision. He explained that practice will end this December. He added that the income tax board is also urging Findlay City Council to implement restrictions if anyone tries to use the practice again.

 

The practice of waiving estimated quarterly payments was implemented after the city was forced to give large refunds to individuals and businesses that overpaid. People and businesses that were using the practice are urged to resume quarterly payments in April.

The University of Findlay is advising nearby residents of an upcoming training exercise that will include a large police presence.

The university says the Findlay Police Department’s Emergency Response Team will be using vacant university houses at 337, 341 and 403 Howard Street for training on Thursday, August 8th.

The training will go from 12:30 to 5 p.m.

The university is reminding everyone that this is a training exercise and to not be alarmed when they see a lot of officers and police vehicles in the area.

A Findlay man was arrested after a drug task force executed a search warrant at his residence.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force, with the assistance of the Findlay Police Department’s Emergency Response Team, executed the warrant at 1425 Bernard Avenue on Monday.

Authorities say a search of the residence turned up prescription pills, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, items indicative of drug trafficking and a lot of cash.

As a result of the search warrant 52-year-old David K. Claypool was arrested.

He was taken to the Hancock County Jail on a charge of trafficking in crack cocaine, a 5th degree felony.

Authorities say additional charges are expected to be filed at the conclusion of the investigation.

The rain left the area just in time and it turned out to be a perfect night for National Night Out in Findlay on Tuesday night.

Findlay area police, fire and EMS agencies gathered at Riverside Park to meet with community members and get to know each other better.

The youngsters had a great time climbing on the police cruisers, fire trucks and ambulances.

“Events like this are priceless,” said Findlay Police Chief John Dunbar.

“This is a great way for the community to see all the public safety agencies outside their vehicles, and to interact with them and to get to know them.”

There was free pizza and root beer floats for people to enjoy and also games and activities for the kids as well as drone and K9 demonstrations as well.

Chief Dunbar says National Night Out is a great event to continue to foster good relations between law enforcement and the community.

“We are very fortunate in Findlay and Hancock County to have the support of the community.”

(ONN) – In the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in Dayton, Governor Mike DeWine has announced a plan that he hopes will stop the next mass shooting from happening.

Among his ideas, the governor wants to see universal background checks on all gun sales.

He also wants the creation of a safe protection order similar to a red flag that law that would allow due process hearings to allow courts to take away guns from those who are an immediate threat to themselves or others.

“I believe in this state. I believe in its people. We can come together to do these things and to save lives,” DeWine said.

The governor lacks the power to put his plan in place, that rests with the legislature.

One of the storms that blew through the area on Tuesday did some damage in Fostoria.

The National Weather Service believes it was a microburst that brought down some trees and branches throughout the city in the noon hour on Tuesday.

The winds even brought down some power lines, leaving some people in the dark.

The city said crews were working on clearing the debris, and AEP was working on getting the lights back on.

The rain that moved through Findlay late in the afternoon was accompanied by some strong winds that left some smaller branches in people’s yards.

Photo Credit: Kathryne Rubright from The Courier

[WFIN] – A car chase ended with the car in a pond at Birch Run Golf Course in North Baltimore Tuesday afternoon.

The Courier reports that a trooper tried to pull over 52-year-old Danny Scarberry, who was recently indicted for a 2015 robbery. Scarberry fled, leading troopers on the chase.

The newspaper reports that nobody was hurt in the pursuit.

You can read the full story on thecourier.com