The Findlay Police Department says a man was arrested after leading police on a pursuit that ended when he crashed into a tree.

Police were dispatched to an address on Lima Avenue on Wednesday morning on the report of a domestic dispute occurring.

Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect, Joseph Box, 28, had left the scene driving a red Kia Sportage.

Officers checked the area and located the vehicle on Second Street near Park Street.

A traffic stop was initiated but police say the man sped off, running stop signs as he tried to get away.

Police say the pursuit made its way onto Blanchard Avenue/State Route 37 and continued on State Route 37 all the way into Mt. Blanchard.

Police say Box lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree in the front yard of an address on North Main Street in Mt. Blanchard.

Police say Box got out of his vehicle and attempted to get away on foot but was quickly apprehended.

Box was arrested for failure to comply with a police officer and domestic violence and also issued a citation for driving under suspension.

He was then booked at the Hancock County Jail.

The total length of the pursuit was around 11 miles and speeds reached 90 miles per hour.

Authorities in west-central Ohio say a recent traffic stop resulted in the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars worth of illegal drugs.

In Madison County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol says a drug-sniffing K9 uncovered 11 pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop.

The illegal drugs are worth more than $150,000.

The Highway Patrol says the driver – Juan Carlos Rivera, of Illinois – had an aftermarket hidden compartment in his car and that’s where the drugs were found.

He’s now in the Tri-County Jail facing 12 1/2 years in jail if convicted.

The Highway Patrol says Senate Bill 305, prohibited designing, building, constructing, fabricating, modifying, or altering a vehicle to create or add a hidden compartment with the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance.

It also prohibits operating, possessing, or using a vehicle with a hidden compartment with knowledge that the hidden compartment is used or intended to be used to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance, and prohibits a person who has committed a first or second degree felony violation of aggravated trafficking in drugs from operating, possessing, or using a vehicle with a hidden compartment.

Now that challenges have been issued against Ohio’s new legislative maps – that were redrawn by the Ohio Redistricting Commission last weekend and passed along party lines – the Ohio Supreme Court will now consider whether they are constitutional.

This comes after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the previous maps were gerrymandered toward Republicans.

Because the redistricting commission again couldn’t come to a bipartisan agreement, the maps will only hold for four years instead of 10.

The ACLU of Ohio says the commission was given a second opportunity to do the right thing: to produce fair and compliant maps; however, the majority-members once again defied the Ohio Constitution and put politics over people.

The Findlay Police Department says a driver ran a red light, causing a two-vehicle injury crash.

It happened on West Trenton Avenue at the Interstate 75 northbound exit ramp at 3:24 Tuesday afternoon.

Police say Mark Bejarano, 57, of Findlay, was eastbound on West Trenton Ave. and failed to stop at the red light and struck the side of a vehicle being driven by Michael Lively, 65, of Tennessee, that was turning westbound onto West Trenton Ave. from the northbound I-75 exit ramp.

Police say Lively suffered head and neck injuries and was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital by Hanco EMS, while no injuries were reported by Bejarano.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

Police say Bejarano was issued a citation for running the red light.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says it’s been recognized for excellence in policy and training

To maintain a consistent and professional response, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office relies on comprehensive, up-to-date policies.

The HCSO works with Lexipol, the nation’s leading provider of policy, training and wellness support for first responders and public servants.

The Lexipol Connect program tracks the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office performance on five metrics proven to measure success in policy management.

Recently, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office was recognized by the Lexipol Connect program for achieving Gold level for consistently and effectively disseminating policies to officers, issuing timely policy updates as laws change, and ensuring officers are trained on policies.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office’s says it’s excellence in policy and policy training enhances community safety by ensuring consistent, effective response based on national best practices.

The Humane Society & SPCA of Hancock County is reminding people to look out for their pets during this cold weather.

Hancock County Dog Warden Dana Berger says outside pets need to have food, water and shelter that they can access.

And he says, with as cold as it’s expected to be the next several days, you should consider bringing in outdoor pets.

People who have a dog staying in a dog house should consider moving the dog house into a garage or barn.

Horses should be given blankets and have a spot out of the wind.

The low Tuesday night will be around 2 with a wind chill of -9.

Wednesday’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies and a high of 13 with a wind chill of -10.

Wednesday night’s temp will be around 5 with a wind chill of -8

Thursday’s forecast is calling for a high of 28 and a wind chill of -5.

Friday’s forecast is calling for a high of 20 and then a low of -1 Friday night.

An Ohio turnpike snow plow driver is on administrative leave following an incident that happened near Sandusky on Sunday.

The video below from News 5 Cleveland shows the turnpike snow plow in Erie County hurling heavy slush over the median wall and into oncoming traffic.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says around 40 vehicles were hit with the slush and some crashed.

At least 12 people were injured. There were no reports of serious injuries.

The Erie County prosecutor will review the case and decide on any criminal charges.

(pic and video courtesy of News 5 Cleveland)

The University of Findlay’s Newhard Planetarium is once again open to the public, with visitors following the university’s COVID-19 safety protocols.

UF says, if you’re interested in teaching and or learning in a unique and fun way, Newhard Planetarium could be just what you’re looking for.

A planetarium is typically considered a theatre inside of a dome in which a projector presents astronomy: the sun, moon, stars, planets, et cetera.

“Our planetarium here on campus is exceptional because the projector in the dome is digital, therefore, we are able to display any media,” said Steven Wild, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics.

“The idea is that we can project things up into the dome for viewers to watch. Typically, it’s items related to astronomy, but we can show all kinds of projections.”

Newhard Planetarium seats approximately 50 people and was closed to the public from March 2020 to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic, there were various groups that utilized the planetarium.

The groups of planetarium visitors included church groups, boy scouts, girl scouts, YMCA groups, summer camps, and local elementary to high school aged classes.

The planetarium averaged around a couple thousand visitors a year.

Some learning experiences that visitors would take part in at Newhard Planetarium included: Reading Under the Stars, Chemistry in a Box, Stories of Astronomy from Other Cultures, and even a showing about the astronomy of Harry Potter.

“The options are really endless with what fun activities we can do in the planetarium,” said professor Wild.

Moving forward, he hopes that more people get to use the dome for educational purposes.

“Overall, it’s a different experience for students and it’s something they get excited about.”

To learn more about Newhard Planetarium, visit the Newhard Planetarium webpage by clicking here or schedule a visit by emailing Dr. Wild at wild@findlay.edu.

Authorities say tips from the public were crucial in finding the person responsible for a hit and run crash that injured two kids in Wood County.

The Bowling Green Post worked in partnership with the Lake Township Police Department to solve the crash in which two juveniles were struck on Ayers Road near Interstate 280 on October 15th in Lake Township.

Following the incident, numerous tips came in to both agencies regarding sightings of the possible hit-skip vehicle believed to be involved in the crash.

The Highway Patrol says troopers and officers worked diligently to follow-up on the leads.

Thanks to the help of the public, tips led investigators to Elmore, where they found the hit-skip vehicle and were able to identify the driver as Kelly Lynn DeStazio, 47, of Elmore.

As a result of the crash, Donnevin J. Murray,16 and Thomas J. Hamby, 12, both of Millbury were hospitalized with serious injuries after being struck walking in the roadway.

DeStazio was recently indicted in Wood County Common Pleas Court for four counts of failure to stop after an accident, two fourth-degree felonies and two fifth-degree felonies.

Both agencies thank the public for their tips, which continually moved the investigation forward and ultimately led to the indictment.

The American Red Cross is still experiencing a national blood crisis and is calling on all donors to help.

Jim McIntyre, with the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, says this is the worst blood shortage in more than a decade.

“Dangerously low blood supply levels are posing a risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.”

He says you can set up an appointment to donate by visiting redcrossblood.org, or by calling 1-800 Red Cross, or by downloading the Red Cross app.

The Red Cross website says people who give blood by January 31 will be automatically entered to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl as well as a chance at a home theater package and a $500 e-gift card.

According to the Red Cross website, one of the next local blood drives is coming up on Thursday, January 27th from 11 to 5 at St. Marks United Methodist Church at 800 South Main Street in Findlay.