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- Health
- Yahoo
Cincinnati police arrest father of toddler shot because of 'negligence by gun owner'
Cincinnati police arrested the father of a toddler that was shot this weekend in what Chief Teresa Theetge called "negligence by a gun owner" to secure their firearm. Officers say Carmelo Anderson's 2-year-old child was shot with a handgun around noon May 31, according to a department news release. Officers responded to the 2500 block of Nottingham Road in the Villages at Roll Hill after a call was made about the shooting. When they arrived, they found Anderson's toddler with a gunshot wound. The child was taken to Cincinnati Children's Medical Center and is in stable condition, the news release says. Officers say Anderson, 21, gave the handgun that the toddler was shot with to someone and told them to "get rid of it," according to court documents. Following an investigation, officers arrested Anderson and charged him with tampering with evidence, court documents say. Chief Theetge said she is "outraged and heartbroken" about the shooting and called for citizens to safely secure their guns away from children. "Fellow Cincinnatians, I urge you to help spread the word: firearms must be secured, before another child pays the price," Theetge said in a statement June 2. "This is not just a call to action – it is a duty we all share. The time to act is now." Theetge and the City of Cincinnati have long been advocates in Ohio for efforts to curb gun violence, including tougher regulations on the safe storage of firearms to keep them away from children. A 2023 ordinance by the city to regulate gun storage, under the guise of a child endangerment law, was blocked by an Ohio state appeals court. State law bans most local gun regulations, the court said in 2024 ruling. The ordinance stated firearms should not be stored where "a child is able to gain access to the firearm," and that failing to do so creates a substantial risk to the health and safety of a child. It was written to allow charges to be filed even if no one is hurt in an incident. "Thank God this child is still alive," Theetge said of the May 31 shooting. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this cannot keep happening. We have a shared responsibility to protect our innocent, curious children." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati police arrest father of 2-year-old shot, hospitalized
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cincinnati police officers sue city, chief alleging bias against White lieutenants
Several high-ranking Cincinnati police officers are suing the city and Police Chief Teresa Theetge on claims the department's leadership is discriminating against White lieutenants in making assignment decisions. The lawsuit, filed on May 19 in federal court in Cincinnati, alleges the city and Theetge discriminated against Capt. Robert Wilson and lieutenants Patrick Caton, Gerald Hodges and Andrew Mitchell by favoring women and persons of color for preferred assignments. The officers say they were skipped over for such assignments, which are generally regarded within the department as career-enhancing and include benefits like take-home cars and additional overtime opportunities. More: Cincinnati expands youth events in effort to engage teens and reduce violence 'The city and Chief Theetge have actively and systemically undertaken efforts to promote, advance, and make promotion and assignment decisions that are preferable to women and minorities, and to the exclusion of White men,' the lawsuit states. Cincinnati spokeswoman Mollie Lair said the city doesn't comment on pending litigation. A spokesperson for the Cincinnati Police Department also declined to comment. The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial and damages, including lost wages and benefits, as well as a court order halting the department's alleged discriminatory assignment practices. According to the lawsuit, while most of the department's lieutenants are White men, women and officers of color were given preferred assignments at higher rates. The civil complaint also cites several instances in which White male lieutenants, whom the lawsuit labels as better qualified, were passed over due to race and gender considerations. In one instance, a district commander requested that Hodges be assigned as the district's investigative lieutenant; however, Theetge chose a Black female officer for the role, the lawsuit states. The officers filed discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2023. They were notified in February of their right to sue. Since Theetge was elevated to the role of chief, 'there has been significant discrimination directed against White males regarding these assignments,' the officers wrote in their EEOC complaints. The lawsuit also claims that a race-based quota system was used to promote women and non-White officers to the rank of lieutenant, with the department's leadership continuing to make assignment decisions based solely on race and gender. A federal judge ruled in 2021 that the department could no longer use race- or sex-based goals in hiring or when awarding promotions. Those goals were related to a consent decree from 1981 that was intended to address discrimination against Black people and women in both hiring as well as promotions. This isn't the first time White officers have filed suit against the department over alleged discriminatory behavior. Earlier this year, the city paid a $95,000 settlement to a White police officer who sued over comments about White people made by her supervisor and colleagues. In 2021, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit filed by two White Cincinnati police officers who alleged a Black lieutenant was 'vindictive and openly racist.' The officers said the lieutenant discriminated against them and created a hostile work environment based on race and sex. Enquirer staff writer Kevin Grasha contributed. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: White Cincinnati police officers sue city, chief alleging racial bias
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Deputy dead after being struck by father of man shot by police May 1. What we know
A Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy has died after being hit by a car driven by the father of a man who was killed by Cincinnati police the day before. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said during a news conference that the sheriff's deputy, whose identity was not released, was hit by a car being driven by the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. The crash happened around 1 p.m. May 2. The crash comes a day after police fatally shot Hinton in East Price Hill during a car theft investigation. Here's what we know. When and where was the fatal crash? The crash occurred around 1 p.m. May 1, just a few hours before the beginning of graduation ceremonies for the University of Cincinnati. It happened near the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in the CUF neighborhood, north of UC's campus. The deputy was outside of his vehicle operating a traffic light when a car driven by Hinton's father, Rodney HInton Jr., entered the intersection and struck him. Lawyer: Family had watched body camera of shooting just hours before deputy was killed The deputy and Hinton's father were transported to the hospital in critical condition. The deputy later died. Traffic on Martin Luther King Drive was closed for several hours after the crash. The road reopened shortly after 6 p.m. Who was the deputy who died in the crash? The deputy's identity has not been released yet. Theetge said he had recently retired from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and was working a special detail by directing traffic for the graduation. "The officer was just out doing his job," Theetge said. Officials have withheld the deputy's name, citing Marsy's Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes. Who is charged in the crash? Cincinnati police said the driver of the vehicle that struck the deputy, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., has been arrested on a charge of aggravated murder. What happened during the police shooting in East Price Hill? On May 1, the day before the fatal crash, Cincinnati police went to an apartment complex in East Price Hill after learning a stolen vehicle was found there. Four suspects, who police believed stole the car, took off running into the woods, some in different directions. One officer chased 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was seen holding a gun. The officer called out twice that Hinton had a gun. The suspect tripped but continued to run between two dumpsters with a gun in his hand, before he encountered another officer, Theetge said. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge at a press conference on 3201 Warsaw Ave., Thursday, May 1, in East Price Hill. Police responded to a shooting on the 2500 block of Warsaw Avenue. The other officer was pursuing someone else when the armed suspect emerged from between the dumpsters, Theetge said. The body camera showed the officer fired four to five rounds at the suspect as he ran in the officer's direction. While it's unclear from the blurred body camera footage, Theetge said, the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that the suspect pointed the gun at him. More: Fatal East Price Hill police shooting happened during 'six quick seconds,' chief says Was the fatal crash intentional? Police and a lawyer for Hinton's father have not provided details on the intentions behind the crash. Hinton's lawyer said in an interview with The Enquirer that the father was "very distraught" watching body camera footage of the shooting earlier in the day, around 10 a.m. "He couldn't finish watching the video," Michael Wright, of the Cochran Law Firm, said of the father. "It was very difficult to watch for the family." Cincinnati police officers were involved in a shooting before 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Westview Condominiums on Warsaw Avenue in East Price Hill. Have police arrested the other suspects after the police shooting? Theetge said after the shooting, the other three suspects ran off into a steep, heavily wooded area. After an extensive search, she said, police apprehended Jurell Austin, 18, and 19-year-old Deanthony Bullocks. A third suspect evaded police custody, Theetge said. Gov. Mike DeWine sent condolences Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement about the death of the deputy who died in the line of duty May 2 while directing traffic. "Fran and I are saddened to learn about the Hamilton County deputy hit by a vehicle and killed in the line of duty today. I have been briefed on the ongoing investigation and am sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence. We offer our sincere condolences to the deputy's family, friends, and colleagues." This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rodney Hinton Jr. identified as driver who hit deputy: What we know
USA Today
05-05-2025
- USA Today
Man whose son was fatally shot by Cincinnati police now charged in death of Ohio deputy
Man whose son was fatally shot by Cincinnati police now charged in death of Ohio deputy Show Caption Hide Caption See driver accused of fatally hitting Hamilton County deputy arraigned Police say Rodney Hinton Jr. was the driver of the automobile that fatally struck a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy May 2. CINCINNATI — An Ohio man charged with killing a sheriff's deputy with his car is the father of an 18-year-old who was fatally shot a day earlier by a Cincinnati police officer, authorities said. Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, crashed into a Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy who was directing traffic during a University of Cincinnati commencement ceremony on May 2, according to authorities. The deputy was outside his vehicle operating a traffic light at an intersection around 1 p.m. local time when he was hit. The deputy was transported in critical condition to the hospital and later died of his injuries, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said during a news conference while flanked by at least 30 law enforcement officers. Authorities initially withheld the deputy's name, citing Marsy's Law — legislation meant to protect victims of crimes — but later identified him on May 4. Hinton has been charged with aggravated murder in the deputy's death and appeared in court on May 3. He is currently being held in a jail in a different county east of Cincinnati for his protection, according to Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Tyrone Yates. The fatal crash came roughly two hours after the Hinton family reviewed police body camera footage of an officer shooting Hinton's son, Ryan Hinton, 18, near an apartment complex's parking lot, said the family's attorney, Michael Wright. Wright said he could not speculate on the intentions of the father, but noted that Rodney Hinton became distraught after watching some of the body camera footage of his son's fatal shooting. "He couldn't finish watching the video," Wright said. "It was very difficult to watch for the family." Officials said the Cincinnati Police Department's traffic and homicide units are handling the investigation into the crash. Tyre Nichols murder trial is underway. What to know about the deadly traffic stop Bodycam shows 18-year-old shot, killed after running with gun in direction of officer Earlier on May 2, Theetge held a separate news conference to discuss details of the shooting of Ryan Hinton. The incident began around 9:30 a.m. on May 1 when officers went to a condominium's parking lot to investigate reports of a stolen vehicle. Theetge said uniformed police officers confronted four suspects inside a 2021 Kia Telluride, which had been stolen out of Edgewood, Kentucky, but had GPS capabilities that allowed law enforcement to track the vehicle. All four suspects exited the Kia and started running from police, some in different directions, leaving the officers to decide whom they wanted to pursue, Theetge added. One officer started chasing the armed suspect, Theetge said, adding the officer saw the suspect's gun and called out to let others know there was a weapon. That suspect was later identified as Ryan Hinton. Ryan Hinton tripped but continued to run between two dumpsters with a gun in his hand, before he encountered another officer, authorities said. Theetge said police on the scene reported hearing the handgun fall to the ground, and images showed scrapes on the weapon, likely from when it fell. The other officer was pursuing someone else when Ryan Hinton emerged from between the dumpsters, according to police. The body camera showed the officer fired four to five rounds at Ryan Hinton as he ran in the officer's direction. While it's unclear from the blurred body camera footage, authorities said, the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that Ryan Hinton pointed the gun at him. Ryan Hinton was struck twice by gunfire, once in the chest and once in the arm. While there was no indication Ryan Hinton fired off any rounds toward officers, police said the gun was loaded with an extended magazine. Ryan Hinton died despite officers' efforts to provide medical aid at the scene, authorities said. 'We must address police violence': Video released in fatal police shooting of autistic Idaho teenager 'This is devastating' A little more than 24 hours later, police said Ryan Hinton's father drove his car into the sheriff's deputy, who was outside of his cruiser operating a traffic light. The vehicle that struck the deputy drove onto a sidewalk and into a light pole, where it came to rest. While the investigation is ongoing, Theetge said the crash was related to the May 1 shooting. On May 4, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office 4 identified the deputy as Larry Henderson. Henderson retired in December 2024 after working 33 years with the Hamilton County Sheriff's office, according to a Facebook post from the department. He worked as a bomb technician and was a dive team member who performed water rescues and searches. After retirement, he continued to serve as a special deputy. He still worked traffic details like the one outside the May 2 commencement ceremony at the University of Cincinnati, where he was fatally struck and killed. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey described him as a 'tremendous person.' Others who knew the deputy took to social media to remember his life and public service. 'This is devastating. I had worked with him since we were young cops,' Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan said in a Facebook post. 'Always one of the first to check on and help you. You didn't need to ask for him, he was already there.' McGuffey previously said there would be a procession for Henderson. 'Our deputy will not be alone,' McGuffey said. 'There will be someone with him until the day that he transitions to higher ground.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Frame-by-frame review of body cam video from fatal East Price Hill police shooting
In the days after a fatal Cincinnati police shooting in East Price Hill, The Enquirer has examined the brief clips of body camera footage the department released to learn more about how those "six quick seconds" unfolded. Roughly 20 seconds of body camera video from two officers at an apartment complex the morning of May 1 show officers chasing on foot a fleeing suspect in a stolen car investigation. The suspect, whom police later identified as 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, was one of four fleeing from police, but the only one seen in the footage. In the footage, Hinton runs from an officer, tripping on some concrete in front of a set of dumpsters. He drops what police said was a Glock .40-caliber pistol recovered at the scene. Hinton then continues between the two dumpsters with what appears to be the pistol in his right hand. The officer alerts his partner on the other side of the dumpster that Hinton has a gun. The partner catches up to Hinton and fires five consecutive shots at him. Two bullets strike Hinton: one in the chest and one in the arm, police said. Who are the Hintons? What we know about man charged with killing a Hamilton County deputy Chief Teresa Theetge said in a press conference the day after the shooting that the time between when the suspects ran from police to when the shooting happened was 'six quick seconds.' Theetge said the officer who shot Hinton believed the teen pointed the gun at him during the quick encounter. He felt threatened for his life, Theetge said. "The individual is running with a firearm in his hand. The officer is running, so the body camera is kind of jolting as the officer is running. What that leaves us with a very blurred image, unfortunately," Theetge said. "However, based on the officer's interviews, the officer who did discharge his firearm said that when the individual came out between the dumpsters, he had the firearm in front of him. It was in kind of a bladed position, and it was pointed at the officer." The department has not released the name of the officer who shot Hinton. For years, the department would release the names and information about officers involved. However, in recent months, the department has been withholding that information, citing Marsy's Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes. Officials say parallel investigations into the shooting are underway by the Cincinnati Police Department and the Citizen Complaint Authority. The day after the police shooting, Hinton's father, Rodney Hinton, Jr., drove his car into a Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy directing traffic, killing him. The fatal crash came two hours after the Hinton family reviewed the body camera footage of the shooting. A violent chain of events: Man accused of killing deputy day after police shot his son This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Body cam: Frame-by-frame review of fatal Cincinnati police shooting
