8 adults, 1 teen linked to missing man arrested

1/3/2004

Defiance police yesterday announced arrests of eight adults and a 17-year-old Defiance boy for their role in events that preceded the presumed drowning of Garrit Nixon.

Mr. Nixon, 20, ran from police and went into the water early morning Dec. 27.

Arrested were David Schmenk, 21; Richard Kim, Jacob Stork, 19; Christopher Swary, 20; Luke Sulpizio, 19; Jamie Hoshock, 18; John Menendez, 20, and a 17-year-old male, whose name was not released. All are from Defiance. Mr. Schmenk was charged with furnishing alcohol to underage persons and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. The rest were charged with underage consumption of alcohol, which is a misdemeanor.

Brock Dodrill, 20, a University of Toledo football player, was charged with underage consumption of alcohol and disorderly conduct. Police say he was with Mr. Nixon when police confronted him. Both were Defiance High School football players

Police have conducted daily searches through at least next week in hopes of finding the body of Mr. Nixon, whom they believe drowned in the Auglaize River over the weekend.

Tim Tobias, assistant chief, has said about a dozen area young adults, some under the age of 21, have been questioned about alleged drinking and gatherings that occurred before Mr. Nixon turned up missing.

Police have said they had two reports of people throwing eggs at cars at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. After police responded, they chased the pair. Mr. Nixon jumped into the river.