AKRON
Reward offered
AKRON: A reward has been offered for the identity of a man who tried to shoot an Ohio Adult Parole Authority officer Thursday night in Akron.
The U.S. Marshals Office Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that helps police identify the man.
According to Akron police, the parole officer was working in the Spring Hill apartments when he was confronted in the hallway by the gunman about 6 p.m. The suspect pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the officer and squeezed the trigger during a struggle. The gun, however, only clicked and did not fire.
The Akron Police SWAT team was called to the scene, but failed to locate the gunman. He is described as a black male, with a stocky build and corn-row style hair.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490. Tipsters may also call the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-492-6833 or send a text message to T-I-P-4-1-1 using keyword WANTED. Callers can remain anonymous and still collect the reward.
Retrial in murder
AKRON: A 22-year-old Akron man was sentenced to life in prison Friday after a jury convicted him of murder in a retrial in Summit County Common Pleas Court, authorities said.
Larrence Major Clay, of Whitney Avenue, was convicted of one count of murder in the July 19 shooting death of 24-year-old Derek Edwards, who was walking with three friends on a sidewalk at Park Lane Manor apartments, near the intersection of Clifford and Hammel streets.
Prosecutors said Clay came up from behind and shot Edwards in the neck. He was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Witnesses placed Clay at the scene of the shooting, and he later was found by police washing himself with bleach, prosecutors said.
In Clay’s first trial in February, a jury convicted him of possessing a weapon under felony disability, but he was found not guilty of aggravated murder. Prosecutors said the jury was hung on the murder charge, leading to the retrial.
Judge Alison McCarty sentenced Clay to life in prison following Friday’s verdict.
He will not be eligible for parole until 2031, prosecutors said.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Fusco fundraiser
AKRON: Akron Councilman-at-large Jeff Fusco will hold a fundraiser from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Knights of Columbus, 2055 Glenmount Ave.
Tickets are $25, or $10 for seniors and Young Democrats.
For more information, call 330-322-6009.
CUYAHOGA FALLS
Third bomb threat
CUYAHOGA FALLS: For the third time this school year, Cuyahoga Falls school officials shut down the high school as law enforcement agencies investigated a bomb threat sent via email.
Superintendent Todd Nichols said the high school principal noticed the email at 7 a.m. Friday. Students were immediately dismissed, and authorities, including Falls police, fire and the FBI, where notified.
The threat was similar to previous emails in that it gave an indiscriminate time that the device would explode.
The superintendent said the message stated that “between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. that there would be a combustible device at the high school.”
Nichols did say that “this one is different than the first two” as the source of the email was different.
Today was to have been the last day for seniors at the high school.
MEDINA COUNTY
Meeting Thursday
MEDINA: Due to Memorial Day and another scheduling conflict, the next meeting of the Medina County commissioners has been scheduled for Thursday.
The board will convene at 9:30 a.m. in the Commissioners Hearing Room, 144 N. Broadway St.
STARK COUNTY
Firearms charge
CLEVELAND: A Canton man with a prior murder conviction has been indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities found him with six firearms.
Torrey T. Gross, 39, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said Gross was banned from possessing firearms or ammunition following his 1997 murder conviction in Oakland County, Mich.
A team of local and federal law enforcement officers, acting on an outstanding warrant for Gross in Stark County Common Pleas Court, obtained a search warrant and arrested Gross on April 17 in Canton.
Dettelbach said the weapons seized were an SKS semiautomatic rifle, two Glock handguns, two Smith & Wesson pistols and a Ruger SR40c handgun, along with various types of ammunition.
Time change
PLAIN TWP: Township trustees have changed the scheduled start time for their meeting Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to noon at Township Hall, 2600 Easton St. NE.
They will discuss properties that are potential nuisance abatements.
Fraud alleged
COLUMBUS: The Ohio Department of Commerce is accusing a Stark County businessman of up to $7.9 million in securities fraud and has obtained a court order restraining his operations.
The order against Geoffrey Nehrenz and his Keystone Capital Management, LLC and Keystone Active Trader, LLC, both of Lake Township, prevents selling or offering to sell securities without a court’s approval; buying, selling or transferring real estate without a court’s approval; engaging in any deceptive, fraudulent or manipulative act; and destroying or altering records.
“The state’s complaint alleges that Nehrenz and his companies made false representations in the sale of securities and engaged in securities fraud,” according to a Commerce Department news release.
The release said investors from Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were told the money would be invested in short-term positions in stock markets and day trading.
Investigators say they found Nehrenz spent money on country club fees, an automobile, a South Carolina resort, health care and more than $500,000 in withdrawals. On May 15, only $13,213 remained.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Meetings Tuesday
Because of the Memorial Day holiday, the regular meetings for both the Barberton and Norton councils will be held on Tuesday next week.
The start times are the same as usual: Barberton at 7:30 p.m., and Norton at 7 p.m.
Office hours
CUYAHOGA FALLS: Summit County Council member John Schmidt, District 2, will hold public office hours from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cuyahoga Falls Public Library, 2015 Third St.
Schmidt will be available to answer questions and hear concerns from constituents.
For more information, call 330-643-2725.
Lane restriction
STOW: The right lane of state Route 8 southbound from the Stow-Hudson border to about the Steels Corners Road exit is expected to be closed much of this morning for emergency repairs.
The other two lanes will be open to motorists.
The Seasons Road on-ramp to Route 8 southbound will remain open.
WATERLOO SCHOOLS
Special meeting
AKRON: The Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the high school media center.
The agenda includes discussion of a contract for the elementary school principal.
Also, a tree dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. June 1 in front of the high school, 1464 Industry Road.
Jeff Freeman, a 1979 Waterloo graduate, has donated a tree and marker stone on behalf of the class of 1979 in memory of all Waterloo students and staff who have died over the years.
The public is invited.
STATE NEWS
Warning posted
ST. MARYS: Advisories are back up at Ohio’s largest inland lake, warning some visitors to stay out of the water because of high levels of toxic algae.
A spokesman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said recent test results showed toxin levels higher than the recommended threshold at Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio.
Signs at four beaches warn seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems to stay out of the water.
Cleaning up the lake has been a priority for the state since 2010, when a toxic algae bloom forced officials to urge visitors not to touch the water or eat fish caught there.
Natural resources spokesman Matt Eiselstein said Friday the agency was frustrated by the news, which he said served as a reminder of the lake’s challenges.
— Associated Press