SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
A decision is pending, after a suppression hearing was held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Monday.
The hearing was held at the request of defense attorney Zachary Maisch, who is representing Ryan Houser, 38, of Celina, formerly of Rockford. Houser is charged with aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; murder, an unclassified felony; possessing a weapon under disability, a third degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. The charges are tied to the September, 2023 death of Houser’s girlfriend, Barbara Ganger, of Van Wert.
In paperwork filed with the court, Maisch claims Houser was never given a Miranda warning during interviews with law enforcement officers, including four separate interview on September 5, 2023, and after Houser was jailed September 8 on an unrelated charge in Mercer County. He’s also seeking to have the court to suppress multiple statements solicited from Houser by law enforcement officers on different occasions during the investigation.
During Monday’s 45 minute hearing, two Van Wert Police Department detectives took the stand and were questioned by Van Wert County Prosecutor Eva Yarger and Maisch. Lt. Rob Black and Sgt. Brock Blackmore testified that Houser was given his Miranda rights, as well as a reminders of his rights before each interview. In addition, Yarger provided Judge Martin Burchfield an audio file of one of the interviews, and Assistant Prosecutor Dillon Staas noted statements made by Houser are critical to the case.
Houser was interviewed by detectives at his Rockford home, at the Rockford Police Department and at the Van Wert Police Department. In court documents, Maisch claimed Houser was surrounded by multiple officers while he was seated on the porch of his home, “limiting his movement, or at the very least, intimidating him into the belief that he wasn’t free to leave.” Black and Blackmore both testified that at no time did law enforcement officers attempt to intimidate Houser.
No other testimony was heard and Houser remained silent throughout the hearing. Judge Burchfield advised both sides he’d review the information and issue a decision in writing.
Houser is accused of fatally shooting Ganger, 43, at Van Wert West Apartments on September 3. Her body was discovered a day later, after the Van Wert Police Department was contacted to do a welfare check.
(more…)POSTED: 05/07/24 at 3:36 am
Submitted information
American Legion Post 178 is asking for help in preparing Woodland Cemetery and the graves of Veterans for Memorial Day.
Post 178 will be placing flags on well over 1,000 graves of fallen service members, starting at 8 a.m. this Saturday, May 11. Individuals, families and groups are invited to help honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In case of rain, the event will be pushed back to Saturday, May 18.
POSTED: 05/07/24 at 3:35 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is bringing awareness to the potential increase of motorcycles on the state’s roadways. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorcyclists to ride trained and sober.
From 2019 to 2023, there were 19,544 traffic crashes involving motorcycles resulting in the death of 1,045 motorcyclists and 12 others. Another 5,770 motorcyclists were injured. Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Summit and Lucas counties accounted for 32 percent of the motorcycle crashes in Ohio.
Between 2019 and 2023, there were 39 motorcycle crashes in Van Wert County. 26 occurred in Paulding County, 24 in Putnam County, 227 in Allen County, 71 in Auglaize County and 61 in Mercer County.
Taking a training class, wearing safety equipment and riding with proper endorsements will help you protect yourself and others. During the same time period, 50 percent of at-fault motorcycle drivers involved in crashes did not have a motorcycle license endorsement. In addition, motorcycle drivers were at-fault in 56 percent of all motorcycle-involved crashes and 64 percent of fatal crashes from 2019 to 2023.
“This is the season for both motorcyclists and motor vehicle drivers to consider the unique traffic safety challenges as more motorcyclists take to the roads with the warmer weather,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Whether your chosen mode of transportation is a motorcycle or a motor vehicle, everyone has a part in safe motorcycling. As a motorcyclist, make sure you have a valid motorcycle endorsement, quality motorcycle training and proper safety equipment.”
“Also, remember to always ride sober,” he added. “As a motorist, be aware that there are more motorcycles on the roads, and focus your attention on their surroundings when driving on Ohio’s roadways.”
Ohio law requires helmets for riders under 18 and riders with less than one year of motorcycle experience. Passengers on motorcycles must wear helmets when the driver is required to do so. Over the last five years, 71 percent of motorcyclists killed and 65 percent of motorcyclists seriously injured in crashes were not wearing a helmet.
POSTED: 05/07/24 at 3:35 am. FILED UNDER: News
Crestview High School awarded its third round of PBIS incentives to 15 high school students for the month of April. To be eligible for the drawing, students had to have all assignments turned in within the reporting period which began the first week of the quarter through the last Friday in April. Local fast food gift cards were awarded to Adessa Alvarez, Sam Boroff, Brentyn Rodriguez, Dakota Thornell, Kale Lichtensteiger, Tommy Heffner, Daevon Kline, Evan Walls, Levi Grace, JJ McGarvey, Logan Foudy, Leah Sowers, Alli Thatcher, Olivia Hampton and Levi Ludwig. Photo submitted
POSTED: 05/07/24 at 3:34 am. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
The Area Agency on Aging 3 is commemorating Older Americans Month by hosting a pair of free spring Shred-A-Thon events.
With the growing number of older adults that have fallen victim to financial exploitation and identity theft, it is more important than ever to have a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older adults. AAA3 is doing this by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
“Here at the Area Agency on Aging 3 we are grateful to be able to spotlight the need for assistance for those that have been victims of crime,” said Area Agency on Aging 3’s Chief Executive Office Jacqi Lucke. “With older adults and people with disabilities we unfortunately see these individuals become victims and are trying to help in any way we can. Older Americans Month really helps us bring the message to the forefront and get information out utilizing social media, our website, the media, and other forms of communication.”
The first Shred-A-Thon will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at the Agency on Aging 3 parking lot, 2423 Allentown Road, Lima. The second Shred-A-Thon will be held at the Van Wert County Council on Aging, 220 Fox Rd., Van Wert, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 23.
The Shred-A-Thon events will have secure onsite shredding done by WiltonKeck. Any individuals are welcome to drive-thru and dispose of any personal documents, check stubs, credit card offers, receipts, or any other paper materials that might contain personal information.
POSTED: 05/07/24 at 3:33 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
DEFIANCE — A woman with a Defiance address was arrested on a warrant charging her with attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated assault and domestic violence.
According to a report from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Summer Raye Jones, 34, was arrested Friday without incident at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio in Styker. She was transported to the Van Wert County Correctional Facility.
No other information is available at the present time.
POSTED: 05/06/24 at 8:27 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
GROVER HILL — It’s a heartbreaking story. An animal rescue facility outside of Grover Hill was destroyed by flames early Saturday morning.
The owners of JAR, or Justice Animal Rescue, were awakened at 4:45 a.m. to find the rescue, Dog City, engulfed in flames. 911 was called immediately, but the building was gone by the time firefighters arrived at the scene.
“All the fire department could do at this point was stop the fire from spreading to our home,” JAR wrote in a Facebook post.
The dogs in the building did not survive and the everything was destroyed by the fire.
“The fire was a complete and total loss, we lost everything,” the rescue said in its post. “We have no crates, no kennels, our outdoor dog area now needs major repairs, even the doghouses burned. All of our dog food is burned, our medications, vaccines, basically everything we needed was in the building and now it’s all gone.”
The post also said the future of JAR is uncertain, as it will take time to rebuild.
“We currently still have 45 dogs in foster who need us and lots of dogs waiting for their chance at freedom,” JAR wrote.
The rescue also wrote that the cause of the fire may have been a window air conditioning unit.
(more…)POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:10 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
A hearing on an attempt to suppress evidence in an upcoming murder trial will be held today.
The hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, was requested by attorney Zachary Maisch, who is representing Ryan Houser, 38, of Celina, formerly of Rockford. Houser is facing four charges – aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; murder, an unclassified felony; possessing a weapon under disability, a third degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. All four charges are connected to the September, 2023 death of Houser’s girlfriend, Barbara Ganger, of Van Wert.
Maisch is seeking to suppress multiple statements solicited from Houser by law enforcement officers on seven different occasions during the investigation. He also claims Houser was never given a Miranda warning during interviews with law enforcement officers, including once when Houser was jailed in lieu of bond.
“All of the above interviews were conducted under circumstances of extreme law enforcement intimidation and in a manner in which no person would have felt free to leave,” Maisch wrote in the motion. “At no point in time did law enforcement ever give a Miranda warning to the defendant. As such, all of the above outlined statements were obtained in violation of the defendant’s rights under the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Ohio.”
Maisch also wants to visually inspect a shell casing found at the scene of the murder and two bullets that were recovered during Ganger’s autopsy in order to possibly determine the caliber. Maisch claims no prosecution reports indicate what the caliber may be.
Houser is accused of shooting and killing Ganger, 43, at Van Wert West Apartments in early September. Her body was discovered on September 4, 2023, after the Van Wert Police Department conducted a welfare check. A police report indicated she had been shot twice, once in the stomach area and once in the head.
(more…)POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:09 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine has announced $3 million in funding for 42 local law enforcement agencies to help their drug task forces enforce the state’s drug laws and combat illegal drug activity.
Grants from the 2024 Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund will support drug task forces that impact 36 counties on issues of drug trafficking, pharmaceutical diversion, and other organized criminal activity associated with the drug trade. The program, which is administered through the Office of Criminal Justice Services, is also intended to help local agencies enhance the safety of Ohioans through multi-jurisdictional task forces.
“Local drug task force commanders know their area’s drug trade inside and out,” DeWine said. “Providing this funding ensures more drugs will be taken off the street and more drug traffickers will be put behind bars.”
None of the funds were given to Van Wert County, but two neighboring counties, Allen County ($83,587.28) and Auglaize County ($76,319.27) received funds.
Funds can be used by agencies to investigate drug trafficking organizations and disrupt the drug supply through intelligence gathering, information sharing, and multi-agency coordination. Grants can also be used to support local work to help drug overdose victims and their families through education, support, and treatment options.
The Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund is part of the Drug Interdiction, Disruption, and Reduction Plan that is funded through Ohio’s operating budget.
The grants are in addition to several other initiatives developed to address the issues of drug trafficking and substance use disorder, including the RecoveryOhio initiative to support aggressive measures to combat the opiate epidemic by investing in the health and well-being of Ohio citizens.
Through the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund, local drug task forces have received millions to intercept illegal drugs and enhance their role in substance use awareness, prevention, and recovery. RecoveryOhio has also worked to expand access to specialized court dockets to give judges flexibility to place defendants with mental health or substance use disorders into treatment rather than sentencing them to jail.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:09 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
WILLSHIRE TOWNSHIP — Ohio 81, between Willshire Eastern Road and Harrison Willshire Road in Willshire Township is scheduled to close today for approximately 150 days to raise the roadway profile and replace two culverts.
Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:08 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Local and area veterans organizations and other groups planning Memorial Day ceremonies and/or services are encouraged to submit information for publication. Please include the date, time, location and any pertinent information, including speakers, luncheon, etc.
The information should be emailed to editor@thevwindependent.com no later than Friday, May 17.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:08 pm. FILED UNDER: News
