Issue of cops' pay goes to arbitration

        Cincinnati's police union is headed to arbitration over the city's withdrawal of paychecks to two indicted officers.

        Fraternal Order of Police President Keith Fangman said Friday the union skipped over its options of appealing to the police chief, safety director and city manager and decided instead to go directly to the American Arbitration Association.

        The union is battling the suspensions without pay handed down Thursday to officers Robert “Blaine” Jorg and Matthew Moning. City Manager John Shirey said the city had to take their pay away in order to preserve public confidence in the police division. Mr. Fangman says that decision punishes the officers as if they are guilty before they've been tried.

        Officer Jorg was indicted for assault and involuntary manslaughter in the Nov. 7 death of suspect Roger Owensby Jr. Officer Moning was indicted in an unrelated case in which he allegedly improperly accessed someone's criminal history.
       

Ex-fighter prefers prison to treatment

        Former heavyweight champion Tony Tubbs told a judge Friday he'd rather go to prison than into a drug-treatment program.

        The judge, who had urged drug treatment, imposed a two-month sentence.

        Mr. Tubbs, 42, was in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court because he tried to sell a $20 rock of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer in August. After serving nearly four months of his sentence, he was freed on probation in December.

        But Mr. Tubbs violated his probation when he tested positive for drugs after a routine urine screen.
       

Westbound FWW closed Sunday morning

        Fort Washington Way westbound (Interstate 71 southbound) will be closed 5-9 a.m. Sunday.

        Motorists will be directed to exit at Third Street, but may also exit at Eggleston Avenue.

        Third Street will reconnect with I-71/75 southbound at Elm Street, while drivers can also take Sixth Street through downtown, go north on Elm Street and take the Ninth Street viaduct to I-75 southbound.

        In addition, traffic headed for U.S. 50 westbound can use Central Avenue to Sixth Street. Traffic headed to I-75 northbound can use Third Street to Central Avenue to the exit at Fourth Street.
       

Comair flight makes emergency landing

        A Comair flight out of Cincinnati made an emergency landing Thursday at its destination in Grand Rapids, Mich.

        Flight 5689 developed problems with the spoiler on its right wing about noon.

        The pilot could not fix the problem while in flight, but landed the plane without incident at about 1:10 p.m. There were 18 people aboard, including the crew, an airport spokesman said.
       

Man charged in holdup at service station

        COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — A College Hill man was arrested after a robbery at a Colerain Township service station Friday morning.

        Curtis Burton, 40, was charged with aggravated robbery in connection with the hold-up of the Clark Oil station in the 7000 block of Colerain Avenue.

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