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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Police searched county commissioner’s home for fugitive son
VANDALIA - Authorities from three police agencies are looking for the adult son of Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge and searched her home last week after the fugitive evaded an officer who saw him there.
A Vandalia police sergeant arrived at Dodge’s home, 397 Farrell Road, on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, to serve multiple felony warrants and arrest Michael E. Dodge, 32. As the sergeant arrived, he noticed Michael Dodge retrieved some mail and then “hurried” back into the house after spotting the police cruiser, according to a police report.
Michael Dodge is wanted by Beavercreek police for felony grand theft, forgery and receiving stolen property charges related to theft and receiving stolen property charges filed in Fairborn Municipal Court in 2004, according to police and court records.
He is also wanted by Vandalia police for failure to appear in court on a traffic violation and by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on a felony probation violation related to a 2004 conviction, according to court records.
In the Jan. 14 incident, Vandalia police said Judy Dodge came out of her house and asked why the sergeant was there, the report stated. She went back inside, looked for her son and came back out to tell the sergeant that Michael Dodge was not there.
Dodge, according to the report, said her son might have fled from the rear of the house and the sergeant said he noticed fresh footprints in the snow that stopped at a paved street.
After a brief search that involved a sheriff’s K-9 unit, police also searched Dodge’s home and warned the commissioner that Michael Dodge was not allowed to stay there and she would be breaking the law by allowing him, the report stated.
Judy Dodge did give police a phone number and an officer did talk with her son by phone, the report stated. Michael Dodge said he would come back home “shortly” but never returned, the report stated.
Police do not suspect that Judy Dodge helped her son escape, Vandalia police Lt. Harry Busse said Wednesday, Jan. 20.
When reached by phone Wednesday, Judy Dodge said she had no idea her son was wanted by police. She then released the following statement, via fax:
“My adult son has had problems in the past, however, it has always been my understanding that he had completed his legal obligations. He does not live with me, he was simply visiting over the holidays. I have not seen him since last Thursday. My son should be held accountable for his actions.”
Busse said there is no way to know if Michael Dodge was living at his mother’s house and there was no evidence that indicates he is.
“I believe at the time Ms. Dodge indicated her son was visiting from Florida for the holidays,” Busse said.
Court records dating back to 2004 show that Michael Dodge claimed his mother’s address as his place of residence. He remains at large and police are asking anyone who knows his whereabouts to call (937) 225-STOP.
Michael Dodge did not return a phone message seeking comment for this story.
TweetSuspended Miami Twp. officer knocked man unconscious, officers say
MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County - Three Miami Twp. police officers said they watched as fellow officer Thomas Seifert knocked a handcuffed man unconscious outside a restaurant in August.
The officers, including Sgt. Scott Fitzgerald said they were called to Milano’s restaurant, 9572 Springboro Pike, about 10 p.m. on Aug. 6 after witnesses reported Jeffrey Lykins was intoxicated and causing problems, according to documented statements the officers made to investigators.
Lykins had to be pepper sprayed after not cooperating with the officers and began to spit as a result of being sprayed, the officers said. At one point Lykins spit on Seifert’s arm, Seifert told an investigator with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
Seifert, 39 and a 14-year veteran, then said to Lykins, “Do that again and see what happens,” he told investigators. The officers on the scene said Lykins then turned to spit in Seifert’s direction and as he did, Seifert kneed him in the side of the head between his ear and shoulder.
The blow forced Lykin’s head to smash into the pavement, causing him to bleed and he was knocked unconscious, Fitzgerald and the officers said.
Fitzgerald said he pulled Seifert off Lykins and called for paramedics. Lykins was unconscious for about five minutes and had to be transported to a local hospital, the officers said.
The officers on the scene said they were planning to issue Lykins a citation for public intoxication, take him home and move on before he started to resist.
Seifert wrote in his report that Lykins was unconscious from drinking and not his knee strike, according to the investigator’s report. Seifert also wrote in his incident report Lykins received the head injuries after falling down while officers were trying to detain him.
The other officers said Seifert’s report was not accurate and Lykins received most of his injuries from the officer’s knee strike.
Sheriff’s investigator, Det. William T. Ables, wrote in his report Seifert’s actions were “inconsistent” with Miami Twp. Police Department policy and he violated five general orders, which included: conduct unbecoming of an officer, treatment of persons in custody, use of force, departmental reports and information and truthfulness.
Seifert is on paid administrative leave and has been since August, Miami Twp. Police Chief John Krug said. Seifert was charged by Miami Twp. police with misdemeanor assault, according to Miamisburg Municipal Court records.
A jury trial has been scheduled for Feb. 25.
Krug said he asked independent agencies to investigate Seifert’s alleged actions because other officers witnessed them and could testify in court.
Seifert is still receiving his paycheck per the police union’s contract and is awaiting a pre-disciplinary hearing Krug said. That hearing has not been scheduled, but must take place before township trustees can decide his employment status, Krug said.
Lykins was later released from the hospital and recovered from his injuries, police said.
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