UPDATE:  BREAKING NEWS/ SUSPECT CAUGHT – The suspect in the shooting of a Highway Patrol trooper last night in Findlay was taken into custody at around 1pm Thursday near the Blanchard River on the road behind Walmart.  More updates to come.

-A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol has been shot along Interstate 75 in Findlay.

The shooting happened during a traffic stop at approximately 11:05 Wednesday night.

The Highway Patrol says the trooper pulled over a black Chevy Suburban with Michigan registration for a speeding violation near milepost 160, between County Road 99 and US 224.

The Highway Patrol says, during the traffic stop, the driver, identified as Robert Tramaine Hathorn struggled with the trooper over his gun and the trooper sustained a gunshot wound.

Hathorn then fled the scene.

The trooper was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The Highway Patrol says the trooper’s gun is in the possession of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol at 4 a.m. Thursday said Hathorn was still at large and is believed to be armed and dangerous.

The Highway Patrol, Findlay Police and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office were searching for the suspect in the area of the BMV on County Road 140.

A perimeter had been set up and a thermal-imaging drone and K9s were being used to locate the suspect.

A little before sunrise the search shifted to a neighborhood across from Liberty Benton High School as a person reported seeing someone running through a field.

Anyone with information about Hathorn’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol Findlay Post at 419-423-1414.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is visiting with Ohio National Guard members who have been assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border.

DeWine also met with officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety for a briefing on the issues of fentanyl trafficking and the humanitarian crisis at the border.

Governor DeWine is among those who are expressing concerns over a surge in people trying to cross into the United States illegally, bringing drug traffickers with them.

DeWine says around 80 percent of fentanyl overdoses in Ohio are caused by fentanyl that is coming from China to Mexico and then over the border into the U.S.

“We are committed to doing all we can to stop the flow of this deadly drug into our state,” the governor said.

(picture courtesy of the governor’s office)

https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1445545453559291910

The Ohio Department of Higher Education has unveiled a new plan to prevent hazing at colleges and universities in the state.

The plan was released on Wednesday, the day before Collin’s Law is set to take effect.

Collin’s Law is named for 18-year-old Ohio University student Collin Wiant, who died during a hazing incident in 2018.

ODHE officials say their plan is meant to be used as a tool for the state’s colleges and universities, to help put an end to all forms of hazing, and to make campuses across Ohio safe for everyone.

Collin’s Law, signed by Governor DeWine on July 6th, makes hazing a felony.

The combination of increased criminal penalties, comprehensive reporting requirements, and education and training expectations included in the law are among the most comprehensive in the country.

“There is no tolerance for hazing in Ohio, and I am hopeful that this new law will go a long way toward eliminating all forms of hazing on Ohio’s campuses,” said Governor DeWine.

Get more on the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s new statewide anti-hazing plan by clicking here.

https://twitter.com/OhioHigherEd/status/1445819799381037057

Family Resource Center, which is headquartered in Findlay, has been awarded a $5 million grant through the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant will enable the organization to open new Community Mental Health Clinic facilities in Hardin, Auglaize, Darke and Miami counties, as well as bolster the spectrum of mental health and substance abuse recovery services currently offered in those communities.

The Family Resource Center’s Ginny Williams says it’s no secret that mental health and substance abuse struggles can impact anyone, now more than ever.

The expansion of Family Resource Center into Darke and Miami counties follows the organization’s successful implementation of similar programming in Hancock, Shelby, Allen, Hardin, and Auglaize counties over the last several years.

“That experience is what makes Family Resource Center the perfect team to respond to the behavioral health challenges facing communities where access to care is limited,” said John Bindas, President and CEO of Family Resource Center.

Site selection and staff hiring for the new facilities are set to begin in October, with a goal of opening the Northwest Ohio Community Mental Health Clinics in the first quarter of 2022.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Natural Resources are reminding drivers about the increase in deer-related traffic crashes this time of year.

Since 2016, statistics from the Ohio State Highway Patrol show there were 100,672 deer-related crashes on Ohio’s roadways.

While 95 percent of deer-related crashes only resulted in property damage, 27 crashes resulted in fatal injuries to motorists, with 28 killed.

Additionally, nearly half (47 percent) of these crashes occurred in October, November, and December.

“As we enter the peak season for car-deer collisions in Ohio, I encourage drivers to use extra caution and slow down, especially at dawn or dusk when deer are more active,” said Governor DeWine.

“A crash with a deer can be just as destructive as a crash with another vehicle, so it’s important that drivers remember to stay alert and watch out for animals crossing the road.”

Some of the top counties for deer-related crashes include Hancock, Stark, Richland, Lorain and Trumbull with I-71, US-30 and I-80 being the leading roadways in the state.

“Always avoid distractions and keep your full focus on the roadway,” said Colonel Richard Fambro of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“If you see a deer slow down, but do not swerve. If you strike a deer, move to a safe place if you are able, turn on your hazard lights, and report the crash.”

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), deer become visibly active from late October through November.

This is due in large part to the fall breeding season.

While males pursue prospective mates throughout the season, they often encounter females that are not yet willing to breed, which can result in pursuits where deer will dart into roadways with little caution.

This unpredictable movement leads to an increase in deer-related vehicle crashes.

Drivers are encouraged to be extra cautious in areas where fencerows, riparian corridors, or other blocks of forested habitat intersect a roadway.

“As motorists have likely noticed, deer are very visible and active in the fall,” ODNR wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker said.

“If you see one deer, be on the lookout for others nearby. Deer rarely run alone.”

The Findlay Municipal Court will be holding its 4th Annual Safe Surrender Day on Thursday.

People who have a bench warrant for their arrest can get the warrant released on Thursday, October 7th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Officials say all you need to do is show up at Findlay Municipal Court and meet with court staff.

The Public Defender’s Office, City of Findlay Prosecutor’s Office and other agencies will be on hand on that day to help get any bench warrants addressed and released.

Some examples include:

Individuals who failed to attend a court hearing will be seen by the Judge, Magistrate or court staff that day.

Individuals who failed to perform community service will be reassigned to a work location. If the individual missed a community service contempt hearing, the hearing will be rescheduled to allow the person time to complete the community service;

Individuals who did not complete counseling for mental health or substance abuse will have their appointments rescheduled;

Individuals who did not attend a status conference will meet with a magistrate or court staff to review their financial ability to pay outstanding fines and to establish a new payment plan;

Individuals who did not report to serve a jail sentence will be issued a new date to report.

Last year, the Findlay Municipal Court helped 86 people get a total of 120 bench warrants released.

Findlay Municipal Court is at 318 Dorney Plaza, Room 206.

Get more information here, or by calling the Findlay Municipal Court Clerk’s office at 419-424-7141.

The Hancock Historical Museum’s Historic Homes Tour is coming up.

The tour is on Sunday with a special preview for a limited number of guests on Saturday.

Sarah Sisser, executive director of the Hancock Historical Museum, says the tour features six homes this year on South Main Street and Glendale Avenue and is very walkable.

Sarah says the homes range in age from the late 1800s to the late 1920s and feature a wide variety of architectural styles.

The Historic Homes Tour is on Sunday, October 10th from 11 to 4, and a a Champagne and Candlelight Preview will be held on Saturday, October 9th from 7 to 10 pm.

Get more details and purchase tickets by clicking here.

Ohio drivers can now order a copy of their license from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles without ever leaving home.

A reprint of driver licenses and identification cards can be requested online.

Previously, people could only obtain a driver license or ID renewal by visiting a Deputy Registrar location.

BMV officials say they expect that will save Ohioans half-a-million visits to their offices every year.

The service is unavailable to customers who need to make changes to their name, address, or other identifiers on their license. In this instance, customers must visit a Deputy Registrar License Agency.

Learn more about the new option by clicking here.

https://twitter.com/Ohio_BMV/status/1444381708313370627

The Findlay Police Department says two handguns were found on a juvenile male who ran from officers.

Police responded to the Taco Bell at 701 West Trenton Avenue at 12:38 Monday afternoon on the report of a male in the restaurant with a gun.

The caller advised that the grip of a gun could be seen in the person’s sweatshirt pocket.

When police arrived, they made contact with the male in the parking lot.

Police say they told the individual to take his hands out of his pockets and he refused and started running away.

The person was apprehended a short distance away.

Police say they found two handguns on the individual, one of which was reported stolen out of North Baltimore.

Police said no threats were made and the guns were never brandished.

The juvenile male was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, obstruction of official business and receiving stolen property.

He may also face additional charges due to the proximity of Findlay High School.

The male was taken to the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center.

Findlay High School informed parents and families of the incident via FinalForms, saying some high school students witnessed the incident while on their lunch period.

The school said the person involved was not an FHS student, and no threats were made to any students or schools.

A man charged with trafficking drugs in Findlay decided to plead guilty instead of going to trial.

The Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office says Ronald Givens Jr. was facing two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs for trafficking a large amount of methamphetamine.

One count was a first-degree felony and the other a second-degree felony.

The offenses happened in December of 2020 and January of 2021, and one occurred within 1,000 feet of Lincoln Elementary School.

The 43-year-old from Hardin County pleaded guilty to both charges on Friday, before his trial was set to begin the following Monday.

Givens Jr. was sentenced to 7 to 10 1/2 years on one charge and 4 years on the other, to be served concurrently.

The prosecutor’s office says Givens Jr. will serve at least seven years behind bars.

His behavior behind bars will determine how much of the remaining 3 1/2 years he’ll serve.