Latest news with #MarionCounty-based
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police say Facebook posts of missing officer are fake
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — A social media post claiming that a police officer is missing out of Clarksburg has been making the rounds over the past few days, but officials said it's all fake. 12 News first learned of this case Thursday evening when a post in a Uniontown, Pa.-based Facebook group was sent our way that claimed a local officer named Marrie-Anne Hendrix has been missing since Wednesday morning and 'may be in EXTREME danger.' 12 News contacted the Uniontown Police Department, which said the post was fake. A few hours later, 12 News discovered another post made in a Clarksburg-based group with the same pictures claiming the officer was missing out of Clarksburg and that her name was Kathleen Ballinger. 87 arrested in Marion County-based drug bust, more arrests pending So who even is this woman? Her real name is Kennedy Ballinger, and she is a real officer with the Middletown Division of Police (MDP) in Middletown, Ohio. The MDP acknowledged the fake posts Thursday afternoon, where it detailed how Ballinger and another officer have been the focus of a mass scam in which fake accounts are made and post messages in 'buy here sell here' Facebook groups claiming that the officers are missing. Do yourself a favor and do some digging before re-sharing the post. If it's legit, you would see it right here on our page or see it on the news wherever you live. The easiest thing to look for is if the comments have been turned off. You could also do a reverse image search on Google and see how many times the photo was used in a post or ad and see the different cities that were tagged. These particular posts spread like wildfire, we ask that you report them as you see them. Thank you and be aware!! Middletown Division of Police Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged after allegedly attacking woman with knife at Grafton home
GRAFTON, (WBOY) — A Grafton man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly attacked a woman with a knife during an argument and threatened to cut out her tongue 'so she couldn't talk to anyone else.' On March 1, officers with the Grafton Police Department spoke with an individual requesting a domestic violence prevention order due to a fight, according to a criminal complaint. The victim stated that the fight was between her and Steven Barker, 29, of Grafton; she showed 'her hand with bandages' and said that Barker 'went after her with a buck knife,' officers said. During the argument, Barker allegedly punched the victim 'because she wouldn't look at him,' according to the complaint, and then ''struck her on the top of her head and on the side near her temple with his fist.' 87 arrested in Marion County-based drug bust, more arrests pending Barker then 'obtained the buck knife and charged her to cut her with it,' and the victim 'grabbed the knife to try to get it away from him,' officers said. While holding the knife, the victim 'wouldn't let go,' and Barker 'headbutted her on the forehead' and then Barker 'put the knife in her hands and told her to shove the knife up to his throat and told her she could kill him,' according to the complaint. However, the victim 'tossed the knife and told [Barker] she is not going to do so,' officers said. Barker retrieved the knife, while he 'was approaching her' he 'stated he would kill her or cut her tongue out so she couldn't talk to anyone else,' officers said. When the incident finished, Barker 'apologized and stated that the injuries [the victim] sustained were her fault and she is the reason he drew the knife,' according to the complaint. Barker has been charged with malicious assault. He is being held in Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $10,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
