FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                         CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton

Saturday, March 28, 2020                                                                                               (513)732-7648

At 3:57pm on Saturday March 28, 2020 the Clermont County Communication Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 3400 block of Sodom Rd.  Tate Township, in reference to an unknown male subject who arrived at his residence and threatened his father-in-law with a firearm. The caller advised that the male subject fled the scene on foot. The caller provided a description of the male suspect to dispatch, who in turn provided the suspect’s description to deputies who were responding to patrol the area for the male suspect.

At 4:10pm, a deputy from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office advised dispatch that she was out with the male suspect in the area of 3517 Sodom Rd.

The deputy exited her patrol vehicle, issuing verbal commands to suspect, who continually approached her. A physical altercation ensued, prompting the deputy to fire her weapon, striking the suspect.

EMS was requested and respond to the scene at 4:12pm.

At 4:19pm Bethel-Tate EMS arrived on scene, rendered medical attention to the suspect, and requested assistance from AirCare.

At 4:50pm the suspect was transported to University Hospital by AirCare.

At 6:23pm,  medical staff from University Hospital reported the male suspect was in “stable condition.”

No deputies were injured during the incident

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was requested by the Sheriff’s Office to respond for the investigation of this critical incident involving a deputy sheriff.

Any additional inquiries are to be directed to The Attorney General’s Office Media Information Officer, Steve Irwin – 1-614-955-8844

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                         CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton

Monday, March 9, 2020                                                                                                                  (513) 732-7648

Parent of a 6 month old child in Stonelick Township charged with felony Endangering Children

On March 3, 2020, at 9:57 am the Clermont County Communications Center received a 911 call from Gary Branam at 5504 Newtonsville Hutchinson Rd, reporting his grandson, a six-month-old male was unresponsive. At 10:17 am Stonelick EMS arrived and transported the child to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. After the child was examined, hospital staff found that the child had a subdural brain bleed that required the child be admitted to the ICU for immediate treatment. Further examination revealed, the child had pre-existing fractures to the back of his skull and left side of his ribs which were healing and dated prior to March 3^rd. Children’s Hospital Social Service Staff contacted the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit to report the child’s injuries. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office responded to Children’s Hospital to interview the parents to attempt to determine the cause of the child’s injuries and where the child was at when he sustained the described injuries.

Sheriff’s patrol deputies, additional detectives and the Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit responded to the parents’residence, located at 5504 Newtonsville Hutchinson Rd in Stonelick Township, where additional interviews of family members were conducted along with a search and processing of the residence.

Clermont County Child Protective Services was notified of the incident and advised that the child was being admitted to Children’s Hospital for treatment. Physicians at Children’s Hospital determined the injuries sustained by the child were “non-accidental trauma related.”

Justin Steel, the child’s father, was interviewed by detectives from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office and confessed to shaking the child on the morning or March 3^rd, 2020  while at their residence on Newtonsville Hutchinson Rd.

Justin Steel was charged today with one count of Endangering Children, a felony of the second degree.

Steel was arrested and is currently being held in the Clermont County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in Clermont County Municipal Court on March 10, 2020 at 10 am for his arraignment.

This investigation remains ongoing and will be reviewed in its entirety with the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office for presentation to the Grand Jury.

Any additional inquires about this investigation should be directed to the Clermont County Prosecutors Office, specifically assistant prosecuting attorney Scott O’Reilly at 732-8177.

Justin Charles Steel, 24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton (513) 732-7648

2/6/2020

Clermont County woman Indicted by the Grand Jury for theft in excess of $175k from a non-profit & former employer

Taylor L. Kidwell, age 27 of Stonelick Township in Clermont County, was indicted by the Clermont County Grand Jury on February 6, 2020 for two counts of Aggravated Theft, both felonies of the 3rd degree.

In July of 2019, the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit was contacted by representatives of “Clermont Adult Residential Homes (CARH)” in reference to a theft of funds by a former employee.  CARH’s is a residential housing and care organization for disabled and handicapped individuals.  Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office met with members of CARH’s to launch an investigation.

Taylor Kidwell was hired in 2011 as a Client Aide, but by the time she resigned in July 2019, she was working as an Administrative Assistant.  The investigation revealed that Taylor Kidwell utilized funds from the organization for personal gain in excess of $175,000 during her employment between 2017 and 2019.  The thefts in question include submitting excessive payroll, along with misusing credit cards and funds belonging to a Client.

A Summons on Indictment was issued by the Grand Jury.  Kidwell is scheduled to appear in front of Judge Richard Ferenc, Friday February 14, 2020 at 10am in Clermont County Commons Pleas Court.

No photo available at this time.