Smith was driving northbound on N. E Street, approaching a stop sign to make a turn, “and I saw the four individuals there, standing in the middle of the road next to a car, with the passenger door open.
“As they seen me roll up, they just stared at me. I don’t know if they got scared because of the headlights or something, and I was making my right turn, they watched me the entire time.”
He felt they were generally “acting suspicious,” so he called 911.
“By the time I got around the next block, I was already on the phone to police,” he said. He lives within about a block of there.
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“The reason I was so adamant about it was because I figured if they hit those people, they might have already hit the street I live on, or will be headed that way,” he said. “Apparently they had hit the block next to me, not the block I live on.”
Officers went to the area and saw the four suspects — a 25-year-old woman from Cincinnati’s West Price Hill neighborhood, and three boys, ages 15-17, all from other Cincinnati neighborhoods — “and they got into a car, and left,” said Police Chief Craig Bucheit.
“They tried to pull the car over, and the car took off and fled from them,” Bucheit said. “As soon as they turned a corner, they got out of the car — there were four occupants — and the officers gave chase.”
Officers pinned down the four in a half-block radius, and arrested the four, with help from a Butler County Sheriff’s dog, which tracked down one of the boys.
“I can’t believe how fast they got here,” Smith said. “I mean, by the time I was in my house and going up stairs, I looked out the window and there was already a couple officers going up and down the streets.”
He has had times when he called police and it took 8-10 minutes for them to arrive, “just because they’re not in the area, they’re on something more important,” he said.
Smith believes he saw three police vehicles that night.
“To me, the true story of this incident is the collaboration between the community and the police,” Bucheit said. Police encourage people to call the police — 911, when something is happening at the moment, a non-emergency number when it’s hours after an incident.
Theresa Hines, 25, was charged with resisting arrest, which was dismissed. She pleaded guilty to obstructing official business, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 86 days suspended and credit for four days she served. She also is on two years’ probation.
A 17-year-old boy was charged with aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, and failure to comply with a police order. The 16-year-old was charged with obstructing official business and curfew violation. The 15-year-old was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing official business.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office was gracious enough to loan us a deputy and a canine,” Bucheit said. “One of the kids ended up getting bit, because they weren’t complying.”
“That’s funny,” Smith said, when he heard about the dog bite. “I guess they get what they deserve.” He also considered it “crazy” that “they came all the way from Cincinnati.”
Smith said he considered calling the non-emergency police number, but is glad he chose 911 instead. He hesitated to dial 911 in case the car they were standing near belonged to them.
But: “They just seemed too suspicious as they watched me turn,” he said.
Glenn Robinson, who lives in Hamilton’s Lindenwald neighborhood and in May complained about people walking the streets and checking car-door handles, said the situation has improved there.
“Things have definitely died down,” he said. “There’s definitely a difference in the number of people who are randomly walking the streets. It’s quieter.”
He has found police very responsive since a fire happened in a garage near his home this spring. He also has been impressed by the police patrols he sees in the neighborhood, and said officers are very dedicated.
On the other hand, “They need more resources,” he said. “I think they’re completely overwhelmed.”
“We’re out there, working around the clock, trying to keep people safe and secure,” Bucheit said. “It’s just a good story about people being vigilant and looking out for their neighbors, alerting us….”
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