Slaying suspect transferred to Findlay

10/20/2009

FINDLAY - A Findlay man arrested in Toledo for the Sunday morning murder of his neighbor was transferred to the Hancock County jail yesterday.

Cornelius Patterson, 30, was charged with murder for the shooting death of David A. Snyder, 26, of Findlay.

Police officers responding to a call about 4:45 a.m. Sunday found Mr. Snyder at the Melrose Manor apartment complex where he lived. He was pronounced dead at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

Findlay police Lt. Sean Young said Mr. Snyder and Mr. Patterson lived in different apartments at the Jennifer Lane complex. He said Mr. Snyder apparently got into an argument with Mr. Patterson's girlfriend, and Mr. Patterson subsequently forced open the door of Mr. Snyder's apartment and shot him one time.

Police said Mr. Patterson had fled by the time they arrived, although they later got a tip about where he was staying in Toledo.

About 7 p.m. Sunday, Toledo police went to a home at 4777 Santa Maria Drive, where the homeowner confirmed that Mr. Patterson was inside.

Officers said they forcibly entered a bathroom where he was hiding and arrested him on the murder warrant and for obstructing official business.

The resident, Donniesha Coates, also was arrested for obstructing official business and making false alarms, police said.

Lieutenant Young said Findlay police have had minor dealings with Mr. Patterson and Mr. Snyder, but that both men had "fairly clean criminal histories."