A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Saturday evening, Feb. 7, in the parking lot of a South Main Street business.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were dispatched around 7:46 p.m. to Domino’s, 509 S. Main St., for a report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian. The driver was identified as Joseph Xavier Lopez, 33, of Bellefontaine.
Police learned the pedestrian, an employee of the business, was delivering a curbside order in the parking lot when she was struck by a white BMW that was backing out of a parking space. The pedestrian reported she had checked for moving vehicles before walking toward a customer’s vehicle when the BMW began reversing and struck the left side of her body, causing her to fall.
The pedestrian complained of pain to her left arm and shoulder and was evaluated at the scene by EMS before being transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by private vehicle.
A witness to the crash provided police with a photo of the vehicle’s license plate, which led officers to a residence on White Pines Drive. Law enforcement later made contact with Lopez, who admitted to operating the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Lopez was cited for traffic violations, including driving without a valid license and failing to yield the right of way. A crash report was completed.
Hit-and-run under investigation
Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash reported Saturday afternoon at a South Main Street business.
Officers were dispatched around 12:59 p.m. Feb. 7 to Goodwill, 1933 S. Main St., after a vehicle was struck in the parking lot while the owner was inside the store.
Police said damage was observed to the front passenger-side bumper of the victim’s vehicle, and photographs were collected as evidence.
A witness provided police with a description of the suspect vehicle and driver, along with a partial license plate number. Officers reviewed store security footage, which was consistent with the witness’s account, though the video quality was insufficient to identify the full license plate. A still image from the footage was shared with patrol officers as the investigation continues.
The incident remains under investigation.
3-vehicle crash results in minor injuries
A minor injury crash was reported around 9:15 a.m. Feb. 6 at the intersection of Stockyard Road and Main Street.
Police said a 2014 Honda CR-V driven by Bethel Carnes, 84, of Sidney, failed to stop at a posted stop sign and entered the intersection, striking a 2023 Ford F-150 driven by Lora-Bradshaw Federico, 32, of Troy. The initial impact caused the Ford to collide with a 2022 Cadillac XTS driven by Laurie Ann Schnipke, 48, of Colmbus Grove.
Carnes was transported by Bellefontaine EMS to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The Honda and Ford each sustained functional damage and were towed from the scene, while the Cadillac sustained minor damage.
Carnes was cited for a stop sign violation, police said.
Juvenile complaint results in arrests
Police responded early Monday morning to a juvenile complaint involving two teenagers who were later located in Union County.
Officers were contacted around 3:25 a.m. Feb. 9 after a guardian reported her teenage daughter had left home without permission and was believed to be intoxicated at a residence in Marysville. The guardian reported the juvenile had been told not to leave the residence and later called requesting a ride, sounding impaired.
Bellefontaine police contacted the Marysville Police Division, which sent officers to the reported location. Through follow-up investigation, law enforcement determined a second juvenile was also involved and contacted that juvenile’s guardian.
Marysville police later located both juveniles and transported them to the Central Ohio Youth Center, where they were lodged on juvenile charges related to disorderly conduct, curfew violations and unruly behavior. The cases are being forwarded to Logan County Juvenile Court and Logan County Children Services for review.
Guardians were notified once the juveniles were located.
• On Feb. 6, officers spoke by phone with a woman regarding an alleged assault involving her son that reportedly occurred Feb. 5 in the Bellefontaine High School cafeteria.
The woman reported her son was assaulted by another male student during the lunch period. Information was collected, and the incident remains under investigation.
• On Feb. 8, officers responded to a city residence for a welfare check involving a juvenile reported missing following a family dispute.
The juvenile was entered into LEADS as missing, and a BOLO was issued. Through follow-up investigation and assistance from the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, the juvenile was located in West Liberty.
The juvenile was taken into custody on a disorderly conduct charge and transported to the Central Ohio Youth Center. The missing juvenile entry was later canceled, and guardians were notified.
• Kellye Christine Gallant, 36, at large, was arrested Feb. 6 after officers confirmed an active warrant for failure to appear.
Police initially responded to the 200 block of N. Detroit Street but later located Gallant near the 100 block of W. Brown Avenue. She was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Logan County Jail, where she was lodged.
