Thomas Whitehead, 41, of West Liberty, was arrested Sunday night, Feb. 1, following a reported disturbance at C&J Laundromat, 350 N. Hayes St.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were dispatched about 10 p.m. to the laundromat after a report of a man inside the business yelling and sitting on the floor while not doing laundry. The business owner reported that two customers were also inside at the time.
Officers made contact with Whitehead inside the business and noted behavior consistent with intoxication. With Whitehead’s consent, officers searched his belongings and located a homemade drug pipe and a single pill later identified as clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Whitehead was taken into custody and transported to the Logan County Jail, where he was lodged on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct while intoxicated.
Witnesses at the laundromat provided statements, and the incident was recorded on officer body cameras and a patrol vehicle dash camera.
1 transported after four-vehicle crash involving semi
Officers report that a four-vehicle chain-reaction crash occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the intersection of East Sandusky Avenue and the U.S. Route 33 on-ramp.
According to reports, Berhe Haileselassie, 29, of Columbus, was driving a westbound 2018 Freightliner tractor-trailer on East Sandusky Avenue when it struck the rear of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado, one of three westbound vehicles stopped at a traffic signal. The impact pushed the Silverado into a 2010 Honda Accord and then into a 2020 Buick Envision.
The Accord’s driver, Joshua Roberts, 38, of Marion, sustained possible injuries and was transported by Bellefontaine EMS to Mary Rutan Hospital.
Neither the semi’s driver nor the drivers of the Silverado and Envision, Nathaniel Lowe, 44, of Bellefontaine, and Kenneth Ware, 78, of Quincy, respectively, were injured. Passengers traveling in the Lowe and Roberts vehicles also were not injured.
Haileselassie was cited for failure to maintain an assured clear distance ahead.
The Envision sustained minor damage, while the remaining vehicles sustained functional damage.
City man arrested for assaulting teenage daughter
Police were called just after 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, to a residence on North Park Road for a reported family dispute.
According to police, 37-year-old William Burnell of Bellefontaine had left the residence in a silver Kia after allegedly assaulting his 17-year-old daughter. Officers spoke with the teen and two witnesses at the scene.
Police were advised that Burnell may have gone to his workplace, where officers later located and spoke with him. Burnell acknowledged there had been an argument and said he went to the home to discipline his daughter. He told officers the situation became physical after she talked back, stating he slapped her and pushed her to the ground while attempting to prevent her from striking him.
Witnesses provided differing accounts, telling officers that Burnell repeatedly struck the teen with his fists. One witness reported yelling for him to stop, while another said Burnell slapped her multiple times, slammed her head into a wall and the floor, and continued hitting her as she attempted to get away.
The teen was evaluated by medics for a possible concussion, and officers noted she sustained minor injuries.
Later that evening, Burnell was arrested at his residence. He was transported to the Logan County Jail and charged with domestic violence.
• Tonja Marie Parsley, 58, of Bellefontaine, was arrested Friday afternoon, Jan. 30, on a warrant for failure to appear. Police reported locating Parsley at the Super 8 Motel. She was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Logan County Jail.
