Justice lawyers at police academy

        Planning is essential to ethical decision-making in police work, Lt. Col. Rick Janke told the Cincinnati Police Division's new recruits on Wednesday.

        Officers who have been taught how to respond to various dilemmas will be more likely to act correctly when seconds count, he said.

SHOTS FIRED: Cincinnati police talk with a woman Wednesday afternoon after reports of shots being fired on Moosewood Avenue near Beekman Street in Millvale. Police responded to the report about 1 p.m. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        His audience included not only 24 recruits in their first week of training, but two lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice, which is investigating the division's practices after April's civil unrest.

        The justice lawyers — Jim Eichner and Tammie Gregg — declined to comment on the inquiry or their impressions of Lt. Col. Janke's three-hour presentation.

        He told the recruits they must have the passion and fortitude to tread “morally dangerous ground” — such as when using deadly force to protect someone's life — but that this passion must be balanced with respect for the American principle of freedom.

Arrest made in month-old killing

        A 19-year-old Price Hill man was arrested Wednesday and charged in the July 24 shooting death of a mother of three in Avondale.

        Cincinnati police charged Michael Johnson, of the 1000 block of Wells Avenue, with murder in the shooting that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. outside an apartment building in the 500 block of Hale Avenue.

        Police found 39-year-old Mary George shot outside the building where she resided. The victim was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at University Hospital.
       

Man captured after standoff

        Cincinnati police arrested an Over-the-Rhine man hours after a standoff with law enforcement officials early Wednesday over a dispute with his wife.

        Chris Wilkerson, 22, of the 2500 block of Halstead St., had been arguing with Katherine Wilkerson, police said. After she left the house to disable their car so Mr. Wilkerson couldn't leave, he locked the door behind her.

        Ms. Wilkerson, who is eight months pregnant, called police because she said she feared for the safety of her two other children, ages 3 and 20 months, who were still inside.

        After several unsuccessful attempts to contact Mr. Wilkerson, SWAT team members entered the apartment to find the man gone and the two children sleeping. Police arrested him just before 6 a.m. at an address on Reading Road.

        Mr. Wilkerson was wanted in Lockland for contempt of court and in Cincinnati for driving without a license, authorities said.

        He was charged in the most recent incident with two counts of child endangerment and is being held without bond at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
       

Police arrest man in deadly robbery

        A 26-year-old Over-the-Rhine man was arrested Wednesday and charged in the July 31 shooting death of a man during a robbery in Mount Auburn.

        The Cincinnati Police Division's homicide unit charged Ernest Williams of East Clifton Avenue with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.

        Michael Balogun, 22, of Atlanta was shot to death during a robbery in the 2200 block of Rice Street, police said. A second victim was treated for a head wound and released.

        Police said two people drove off in the victim's rented car, which was found abandoned a short time later.
       

Reds game will disrupt parking

        Those who park at the Cinergy Field garage and plaza will have to find other parking today because of the Reds game at 12:35 p.m. These spaces are reserved for season parking pass holders and daily parkers will not be admitted.

        Other remaining day games are Sept. 5 and 10.
       

More care available for the uninsured

        Three Greater Cincinnati agencies will receive about $400,000 in federal grants to expand dental, pharmacy, mental health and substance abuse services for uninsured and underinsured people.

        The grants are part of a $24.8 million program announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

        In Greater Cincinnati, the Southern Ohio Health Services Network will get $96,050, Lincoln Heights Healthcare Connection Inc. will get $200,000 and Cincinnati Health Network Inc. will get $100,000.
       

Five boys accused of attacking pair

        GREEN TOWNSHIP — Two men were injured and five juveniles are facing charges after an attack early Wednesday in the parking lot of White Oak Middle School on Jessup Road.

        James Watson, 21, of Felicity is in good condition at Mercy Franciscan Hospital-Mount Airy after being hit in the forearm by a shotgun blast.

        Anthony Mead, 18, for whom police had no address, was treated for multiple abrasions to both knees, arms and the abdominal area. Mr. Watson drove himself and Mr. Mead to the hospital, Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said.

        The five juveniles are all from Colerain Township.

        One 16-year-old boy was charged with felonious assault and assault, and was taken to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

        Two 16-year-old boys, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were charged with complicity to felonious assault and assault. They were released to their parents, Mr. Barnett said.

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