Inmate escape prompts inquiry of 2 deputies

11/5/2005

Two Lucas County sheriff's deputies are the focus of a departmental internal investigation after a jail inmate they were supposed to be guarding escaped this week from a local hospital.

Sheriff James Telb told his internal affairs bureau yesterday to begin the investigation into the escape Monday of Isaac Busby from St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he was taken Oct. 29 after complaining of chest pain.

The 45-year-old Cone Street man supposedly bolted past deputies Michael Hirt and Joseph Szymanski and fled the hospital. He was captured the next day at a Toledo bank.

Sheriff Telb said the deputies may have violated department policy by failing to put leg restraints on the inmate.

The deputies have been restricted to duties inside the jail and cannot leave the lockup while on duty, jail authorities said.

ELMORE - A 28-year-old Wood County man was arrested yesterday after being accused of breaking into an inn and stealing money, liquor, and cigarettes, Elmore police Chief George Hayes said.

Jacob Christman, of North Baltimore, Ohio, was charged with breaking and entering, theft, possession of criminal tools, and possession of a hypodermic needle after police said he broke into the back door of the Portage Inn, 355 Rice St., and attempted to break into Pisanello's Pizza, 351 Rice, shortly after 4 a.m.

He was being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, and was scheduled to appear Nov. 14 in Ottawa County Municipal Court.

Mr. Christman was arrested after tenants living in an upstairs apartment saw the crime, contacted police, and told them which direction the robber fled, authorities said.

MONROE - Southbound I-75 will be reduced to a single lane at two locations today in Monroe County while beams on overhead bridges are repaired, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced.

From 7:30 a.m. until 10 a.m., the right and center lanes will be closed at Dunbar Road in Monroe.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the right and center lanes will be closed at Ready Road near Newport, Mich., which is north of the I-275 junction.

Significant traffic delays are likely.

On Monday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., northbound I-75 will be reduced to one lane at Ready for pavement marking work. Lengthy delays are likely once again.

PORT CLINTON - Authorities are searching for a man who has exposed himself three times at two Port Clinton area convenience stores.

Ottawa County sheriff's Deputy Joe Vidal said the man was caught on videotape Oct. 23 showing his genitals to a clerk at the Friendship gas station on State Rt. 269, and then again at the same store Oct. 27.

The same day, the man also exposed himself at the Friendship station at State Rt. 53 and State Road in Portage Township.

In each case, Deputy Vidal said, the man approached the counter of the store with an item and a newspaper, which he held in front of himself.

Once at the counter, the man would then pull the newspaper away, exposing himself to the station employee.

Toledo's Division of Streets, Bridges, and Harbor crews will collect leaves Monday on all streets in the 43614 and 43606 Zip Code areas.

Residents are reminded to keep branches and debris out of leaf piles in order to avoid damaging leaf collection equipment.