SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ATHENS CO UNTIL 2AM, 5/11, WATCH FOR CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS!

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVER THUNDER STORM WATCH FOR ATHENS COUNTY UNTIL 2 AM, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11.

REMEMBER, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, LOCAL TV, RADIO OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION PROVIDER FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous, May 2016 Crimes of the Month

AC crime solvers

The following incidents have been listed by Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous as May 2016 Crimes of the Month.

The Athens Police Department is requesting your information pertaining to three criminal acts, connected by DNA, which occurred within the City of Athens.

The Athens, Ohio Police Department is actively investigating three separate but related violent assaults which took place in Athens between 2006 and 2015.

On June 20, 2015, at approximately 2:00 AM, a female was walking home from the uptown area. As she walked through the parking lot at the rear of 19 E. Carpenter St, an unknown suspect approached her from behind and attempted to sexually assault her but was scared away by others walking in the area.

DNA evidence obtained as a result of the investigation was submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for analysis. The results of the analysis showed the suspect from the 2015 assault was the same suspect that had been identified by DNA in a sexual assault reported in 2006.  The details of the 2006 sexual assault are very similar to the 2015.

In the 2006 incident, the female victim was also walking home from the uptown area when she noticed an unknown white male following her. After arriving home, the suspect illegally entered the victim’s home and forcibly raped the victim and then fled the scene.  The victim described the suspect as being 5’08” to 5’10” tall, weighing 130 to 150 pounds, with short light-colored hair.  This description is very similar to the description provided by the victim of the 2015 incident.

The third incident occurred in December of 2015. Again, the nature of the assault is similar to the prior incidents.

We are seeking information on the suspect who is described as a white male in his late twenties to early thirties, 5’8” to 5’9” tall, and weighing approximately 160 pounds. The attached composite was developed through use of the suspect’s DNA.  If you have any information related to these two incidents or know the identity of the suspect, please provide it to the Athens Police Department.

DNA Composite Pictures 05052016

The Athens Police Department is also investigating the passing of counterfeit money at the Speedway on Richland Ave on April 17, 2016. A white male wearing an Ohio University t-shirt, as seen in the surveillance footage, provides the clerk with a counterfeit bill to pay for merchandise he selected in the store.  After the transaction was complete and the male had left the store, it was determined the bill he passed was in fact counterfeit.  The male left the lot in a 2006-2012 black Toyota Rav4.

Counerfiet Pictures 05052016

The Athens and Nelsonville Police Departments are requesting your information pertaining to multiple restaurants being broken into and they appear to be related.

The following restaurants were forcibly entered and similar items were taken from each one:

  • Dynasty Restaurant, 498 Richland Ave. Athens, February 9 to February 10, 2016
  • Rhapsody, 18 Public Sq. Nelsonville, February 11 to February 12, 2016
  • El Camino, 1017 E State St. Athens, February 12 to February 13, 2016
  • OMG Rotisserie, 139 Columbus Rd. Athens, February 19 to February 20, 2016
  • Mr. Taco, 122 W. Union St. Athens, February 20, 2016
  • Dynasty Restaurant, 498 Richland Ave. Athens, April 4, 2016 at 1:35 AM

 

Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous is offering a $2,000.00 cash reward for information on the above crimes if that information leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the person or persons responsible. *Information on serious misdemeanors will be limited to a $1000.00 cash reward.  **Any information that leads to the arrest of an individual responsible for graffiti, the board can authorize up to a $500.00 cash reward. If you have information on these crimes, please call (740) 594 – 3331.

Other cash rewards are available for your information regarding other crimes that have been committed in Athens County and if you have knowledge of other crimes, you are asked to call (740) 594 – 3331. Also visit our website at www.crimesolversofathens.org for information on previous crimes of the month.

Remember! Crime Solvers Anonymous needs your information and not your name so that your information can be passed onto the proper authorities.

Help us to help Athens County become a safer place.

Athens Co Emergency Warning Siren TEST, Wed, 5/4, 12 noon in Nelsonville, The Plains and New Marshfield

Siren Test

The outdoor emergency warning sirens in Nelsonville, The Plains and New Marshfield will be tested at 12 noon on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, with a one minute sounding of the sirens. Local residents are asked not to call local emergency agencies inquiring why the sirens are sounding.

The outdoor warning siren system is normally tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00 p.m. The monthly test will be cancelled if severe weather is threatening. If severe weather cancels the test it will be postponed until the next month. There are three conditions that result in the warning sirens being activated in Athens County.

  1. Severe Weather
    • When the National Weather Service initiates a Tornado Warning for an area that includes areas of Athens County.
    •  When the National Weather Service initiates a Severe Thunderstorm Warning (winds 58+ mph, large hail, severe lightening and heavy rains), for an area that includes areas of Athens County.
  2. When there is an actual enemy or terrorist attack against the United States has been detected and is threatening areas of Athens County and protective action should be taken immediately.
  3. When a public safety emergency occurs the sirens will be used to alert the public of emergencies such as hazardous materials incidents and civil disturbances.

When the outdoor warning sirens are sounded for an emergency they will be activated for five minutes. When you hear the warning sirens you should do the following;

  1. DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 to ask why the sirens are sounding as this can overload the 9-1-1 emergency response system.
  2. Remember, outdoor warning sirens are just that, out-door warning. The sirens are meant to be heard outside to signal you to go indoors and tune your radio or television station to the local Emergency Alert System (EAS) Station. As homes continue to become more energy efficient and sound proofing enhanced, outdoor warning sirens that once could be heard decades ago inside of a home can no longer be heard. That’s why other means of warning are in place.
  3. Go immediately to a safe area in your home or building, if high winds, severe thunder and lightning are present.
  4. If you are outside away from possible shelter, lie flat on the ground away from trees until the storm passes. If in a vehicle, get out and find a more substantial structure.
  5. Carry a battery operated radio or NOAA all hazard alert radio to your safe area. You will know when the storm or emergency has passed and when it is clear to leave your safe area.
  6. The Athens County SIRENS DO NOT identify specific types of storms or emergencies, therefore you should immediately seek shelter and tune to local television or radio for further information.

Nelsonville BOIL ORDER for all of Mill Street until further notice

Nelso Boil Order

The Nelsonville Water Department announces that a boil order has been issued for all of Mill Street until further notice.

Boil orders are put into place as a result of broken water lines or local flooding. When this happens, the drinking water may have been contaminated which can cause many illnesses.

Here are some tips to keep in mind, should you find yourself in this situation: • Bring water to a full boil, and boil for three minutes prior to use.

  • Use only boiled water for drinking, preparing food or baby formula.
  • To improve the flat taste of boiled water, keep cold in refrigerator.
  • Put a cup over your faucets as a reminder to not use tap water – not even to brush your teeth!
  • Instead of boiling water, you can disinfect water by adding one teaspoon unscented chlorine laundry bleach for every five gallons of water. Let stand 30 minutes before using.
  • Be sure to use sanitized food grade containers for storing water.
  • To disinfect water storage containers, pour a solution of one tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach to a gallon of water into a container. Let the solution remain in the container for 10 minutes, then pour out the solution. Rinse with purified water.
  • Boiled or disinfected water can be stored for six months.
  • Dispose of ice cubes.
  • When washing dishes, make sure to sterilize dishes with a final dip in water that has one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Disposable tableware is an option during a boil order.
  • It is also recommend you sanitize hands when washing. Again use one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water and rinse hand frequently by pouring rinse over the hands. Use paper towels to dry.
  • Water for bathing doesn’t need to be boiled. Supervise children to avoid water being ingested.

ATHENS COUNTY INVESTIGATION DETERMINES ANONYMOUS THREAT NOT SPECIFIC TO OHIO UNIVERSITY OR ATHENS

JOINT LOGO

ATHENS, Ohio – As indicated in an earlier statement, Ohio University police received a report this morning (April 29) of an anonymous threat posted to the location-based social media app Yeti. Although it was initially believed that the post was made to the “Ohio University” group—thus tying the threat to Athens—further investigation, with assistance from Yeti application technical staff, has revealed this was not the case.
Users on Yeti can monitor key words in posts which will cause material to appear in their feed that is not associated with the group to which they belong. Investigation has shown that the threatening video was posted by a user in Europe who is not affiliated with any group on Yeti. Although the complainant belongs to the “Ohio University” group, the video appeared in the complainant’s feed based on key words, not location. With assistance from Yeti application technical staff, detectives were able to confirm the user who originally generated and posted the video was not in the United States. Based on this latest information, we do not believe there is any specific threat to Athens or Ohio University at this time.
We would like to commend the complainant who reported the video, as it is always best to take threats seriously and “See Something, Say Something.” We would also like to thank Yeti application’s staff for their assistance with the technical investigation.
This case was another example of coordinated investigative work by local and federal law enforcement to bring the matter to a quick close.

ATHENS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATING ANONYMOUS THREAT

JOINT LOGO

ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio University police received a report early this morning (April 29) that an anonymous video threatening the safety of “American students” had been posted to a location-based social media app called Yeti. The app allows users to post and view images associated with college-based user groups. The threatening video was posted to the “Ohio University” group, which allows users to affiliate with the Athens campus. A screen capture of the video appears below:

04292016 THREAT SCREEN SHOT

Local law enforcement shared the information with Athens County school personnel, who in an abundance of caution, closed area schools. Ohio University remains open, and commencement will continue as scheduled, but additional police staffing and increased security measures will be in place.

The FBI is assisting local law enforcement, who are working to evaluate the credibility of the threat. The investigation is ongoing.