Police Log

Bluffton EMS were busy in January. Jan Basinger, EMS chief, provided the Icon with the January log, which follows.

The Super Bowl is America’s most popular national sporting event. All across the country, millions of people gather to socialize and watch the big game. 

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) and the National Football League (NFL) to spread an important safety message to the public about designating a sober driver on Super Bowl Sunday – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

Fire calls to the Bluffton fire department were down in 2011 from 2010, according to Jon Kinn, fire chief. Kinn released the department's annual fire report to council on Monday. 

In 2010 the department responded to 96 calls. In 2011 the department responded to 80 calls. March and April 2011 were last year's two busiest back-to-back months for the department. Twenty-two calls were answered during that period.

For a breakdown of fire calls for 2011 open the attachment at the bottom of this story.

The Allen County Sheriff’s Department received a call at around 7:30 a.m. Thursday from a resident of Bluffton on East College Avenue regarding an individual behaving in a suspicious manner.

Officer Schultz arrived and found a man walking in the area and questioned him learning that he was not a resident of the area.

It was a very busy year for Bluffton EMS. Jan Basinger, chief, provided The Icon with the 2011 annual run totals. Here’s a summary of the year:

The department responded to 475 calls, transported 343 patients and had 143 no transport runs for a total of 489 runs for the year.

The busiest month was June with 60 calls. The majority of all calls – 376 – were medical related. The department responded to 51 fire calls. Ten of its calls resulted in a Life Flight run.

Bluffton Police Department
Public Docket
December 31, 2011
 

December 1
Police responded to a non-injury traffic crash at the intersection of College Ave. and S. Main Streets. Nathaniel Hursh, 17, Bluffton was issued a citation for failing to yield the right of way. The case is pending in Allen County Juvenile Court.

December 2
A Bern St. resident reported that unknown persons had flipped their riding lawnmower onto its top while it was sitting in the front yard.

The Bluffton EMS answered more than 35 calls in December, according to Jan Basinger, chief. His report follows:

DATE          TYPE OF CALL     LOCATION

Bluffton EMS chief, Jan Basinger, provided The Icon with the November EMS report: 

Bluffton Police Department
Public Docket
October 2011

October 1
A Vance St. resident reported that unknown people were in her residence. Officers checked the area and there was no sign of anyone having been there. Drug paraphernalia was also taken from the residence.

A N. Main St. business reported a found a bicycle on its property.

Officers received an envelope containing cash and credit cards that was found on Jackson St.

Rick Skilliter, Bluffton police chief, warns businesses in the area to be on the look-out for a "quick-change" person.

Skilliter's announcement follows:

"On two occasions within the past two weeks we've had reports of a middle-aged black male attempting to 'quick change' the cashier working the counter. Both incidents have taken place at businesses along State Route 103.