Monday, March, 14, 2016

Bryant fire
A fire was reported at 11 a.m. Saturday to Bryant Fire Department.
The call was made after a report of smoke at 1141 800 North off of U.S. 27.
The property owner was attempting to get rid of an old greenhouse by way of a controlled burn. By the time the five firefighters and one truck made it on scene, the fire was almost out.
Firefighters returned at 11:20 a.m. to the station.

Ritz alarm
Portland Fire Department responded to a fire call, which became a false alarm, Saturday evening at the Ritz Theater, 202 N. Meridian St.
A call was made at 8:51 p.m. and seven firefighters and two trucks were on scene at 8:53 p.m. as moviegoers were evacuated outside.
The cause of the alarm was accidentally burned hamburger in a third floor apartment.
The firefighters were back in service at 9:05 p.m.

Wal-mart theft
A theft was reported at 10:10 p.m. Friday at Wal-mart, 950 W. Votaw St.
An employee called Portland Police Department saying a lady was heading for the exit and allegedly stuck something in her purse and began to leave in a gray minivan with a male subject.
The items included camp fuel coffee filters, lithium batteries and clothing worth $55.49.
Police stopped the suspect and she was arrested.
Sarah Mangas, 32, 217 W. Division St., Union City, was arrested for theft: receiving stolen property, a Class A misdemeanor.
She was booked at 11 p.m. into Jay County Jail on a $1,000 bond but has since been released.

Backing crash
Two Jay County drivers were involved in a collision Sunday afternoon after backing into each other in the parking lot of Great Clips, 1041 W. Votaw St.
Ryan M. Burkett, 17, 117 E. Sixth St., Portland, and Amber M. Yadon, 26, 304 S. Franklin St., Dunkirk, told a Portland police officer they were backing from parked positions in the lot. Burkett backed into Yadon’s 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Crew.
Burkett was driving a 2007 Cadillac DTS, registered to Keith W. Burkett, same address.
Damage in the 12:20 p.m. crash is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.

Rear ended
A Portland man’s car crashed into the rear end of a Bryant driver’s vehicle Saturday morning in Bearcreek Township.
Ernie, F. Whitacre, 59, 7758 E. Indiana 67, Bryant, told Jay County Sheriff’s Office he was traveling north on U.S. 27 near county road 300 North when two vehicles abruptly stopped in front of his 2013 Ford F-250. He said he swerved to the right to avoid colliding into the other vehicles and was able to do so but was struck in the rear by a vehicle driven by Nicolas E. Lairson, 18, 6582 S. State Line Road, Portland.
Lairson said he saw traffic stop suddenly in front of him but didn’t want to swerve into oncoming traffic. He was unable to stop before hitting the left rear of the Ford with the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta he was driving.
The Jetta is registered to Aaron D. Lairson, 1451 N. U.S. 27, Portland.
Damage in the 10:05 a.m. collision is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.

Rear ended
A woman reported at 11:12 p.m. Sunday evening another driver struck her car while it was parked in the lot of Ponderosa, 1002 N. Meridian St., Portland.
Kelly Casey told a Portland police officer the accident happened while she was at work from 9:40 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ponderosa on Sunday.
The car, a 2006 Nissan Murano, is registered to Carletta S. Brunson, 310 E. Walnut St., Portland.
Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.

Deer strike
A Union City, Ohio, driver hit a deer with his car Saturday evening in Pike Township.
Leo J. Schwieterman, 75, 1021 Converse Road, told Jay County Sheriff’s Office he was heading south on U.S. 27 near county road 800 South and did not see a deer in the middle of the road. He said he was unable to avoid hitting the deer with his 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Damage in the 10:05 p.m. crash is estimated to be less than $1,000.

Deer crash
A Parker City man struck a deer with the SUV he was driving at 9:35 p.m. Friday in Richland Township.
William L. Hardwick, 62, 12300 E. Jackson St., told Jay County Sheriff’s Office he was traveling north on Indiana 1 near county road 900 South when a deer ran onto the road. He said he could not avoid striking the deer in the 2002 Ford Windstar he was driving.
The Windstar is registered to Rebecca A. Hardwick, same address.
Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.

In area courts
Benjamin J. Hendricks, 29, Fort Recovery, entered a plea of no contest in Celina Municipal Court to a charge of telecommunication harassment. He received a 10-day suspended jail sentence on the condition he has no contact with the victim for two years. He was also assessed court costs. He also pleaded no contest to failure to file village income tax and was assessed court costs.
In the same court, Austin T. Bergman, 20, Geneva, entered a plea of no contest to underage possession or consumption of alcohol. He was fined $50 and assessed court costs. He also pleaded no contest to having fictitious plates. He was assessed court costs.
Gregg A. Spivey, 79, Fort Recovery, pleaded no contest in Celina Municipal Court to disorderly conduct. He was assessed court costs, which were covered by time served in jail.
In the same court, Sandra J. Stein, Fort Recovery, was fined $38.50 for speeding.