FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton

Tuesday September 29, 2021                                                                                                         (513)732-7648

 On September 29th, 2021, at approximately 12:50pm, administrators from New Richmond High School, located at 1131 Bethel New Richmond Rd.,  New Richmond Ohio, were advised by several students that a 9th grade student claimed that he had a gun in his back pack.

Within 3 minutes of the initial report, The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer (SRO), along with school administrators, identified and removed the student from class.  The student’s personal property and locker were searched and no weapon was located. The Sheriff’s SRO spoke with the student in question who admitted that he had told classmates that he had a weapon. The student added “it was a joke” and that he did not have access to any weapons.

The male student, age 14, has been charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.  The student was removed from the school and released to his parents, who confirmed that their son did not have access to any firearms.

“I will continue to encourage students and parents to report any issue that jeopardizes the safety of students on Campus. School safety is and will remain a priority of the Sheriff’s Office” Sheriff Leahy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                             CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton

Friday, September 3, 2021                                                                                                                                                                   (513)732-7648

Man shot during altercation in Jackson Township, Clermont County

On September 2, 2021 at 7:40pm, The Clermont County Communications Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 5600 block of Bucktown Rd., Jackson Township, reporting a shooting incident at his residence. Caller reported that he had been shot during a verbal dispute with a known subject. Deputies from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and discovered a male with a single gunshot to his right hand and were told that the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle.

Stonelick Township EMS respond to the scene and transported the shooting victim, identified as Christopher Freeman, age 33,to Bethesda North Hospital at 8:07pm. Freeman’s injury were non-life threatening and he has been released from the hospital.

Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Crime Scene Unit responded to process the scene. A Detective responded and interviewed Freeman at Bethesda North Hospital. Freeman explained that he was involved in a heated verbal dispute with the suspect identified as Russell Bonham, age 46,  that turned physical.  Freeman alleges that Bonham brandished a firearm during the altercation and fired several shots at him, striking him once in the right hand.

Bonham fled the scene in a silver Saturn and has not been located. Bonham is wanted for questioning in this investigation.

Bonham currently has a Warrant on Indictment outstanding for his arrest out of Clermont County Common Pleas Court for Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Trafficking in Drugs, no bond.

Anyone with information on Bonham’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office at 513-732-7510. Bonham should be considered to be armed and dangerous.

The investigation into this shooting remains ongoing. No charges have been filed related to this investigation.

Russell Bonham age 46    Photo taken 11/20/1018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                 CONTACT: Chief Deputy Chris Stratton

Tuesday, August 17, 2021                                                                                                         (513)732-7648

Clermont County Grand Jury indicts Monroe Township man for the Felonious Assault of a 2 year old child

On August 17, 2021 the Clermont County Grand Jury returned an indictment on James Tackett Jr. of Monroe Township for one count of Felonious Assault, a felony of the second degree and one count of Endangering Children, a felony of the third degree. This investigation stemmed from a 911 call on June 19, 2021 for a 2 year old child not breathing at a residence located in the2100 block of SR 125, in Monroe Township. Tackett initially reported to responding deputies that he was caring for his girlfriend’s 2 year old daughter while she was at work and the child slipped and fell while running across the kitchen floor after getting out of the bathtub. Tackett stated that the child was unresponsive when he found her. Tackett called the mother and requested that she return home from work due to the child’s condition.  When the child’s mother arrived home, she called 911 and requested EMS.

Detectives from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to process and interview person(s) involved in the incident. Tackett denied causing injury to the child when questioned. This resulted in a two month long investigation concluding with physicians at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital determining that the child’s injuries were consistent with “Serious inflicted trauma not consistent with a household injury.” 

Tackett was taken into custody without incident today by Sheriff’s deputies.

Tackett is currently being held in the Clermont County Jail without bond. He will appear before Judge Haddad for his arraignment at 10:00 am on Wednesday August 18, 2021 in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.

Any additional inquires about this investigation should be directed to the Clermont County Prosecutors Office at (513) 732-7313.

James Tackett Jr. age: 22