Dante Tate sentenced in Medina Court
MEDINA COUNTY, Ohio⎯Dante Tate, one of three men who have been charged in events associated with the death of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis on March 31, 2022, has been sentenced to two years in prison.
On July 6, the 19-year-old pled guilty to two charges⎼failure to comply with an order of a police officer and receiving stolen property⎼and was sentenced on Monday, August 8, in Medina County Court.
Tate still faces charges in Hancock County, as do two other men. Police reports say the three men were in the vehicle that killed Officer Francis while he was deploying stop sticks on I-75 at Bluffton.
Emin Johnson and Zachary Love were taken into custody in Hancock County on March 31 following a manhunt. Law enforcement officials report that Tate stole a Toyota Prius outside of Bluffton, resulting in another chase. Tate was stopped at SR-57 in Elyria later that day.
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026
- Labor Day weekend pause for the Icons
- Ada Icon headlines, Sept. 1-4
- Celebrate Recovery program announced by Ebenezer Church
- Bluffton chamber resumes monthly meetings, Sept. 11
- P.S. Why read, like and share local news?
- Pirate volleyball wins in 5 vs. Defiance Ayersville
- Pirate girls soccer blanked by Celina
- SummerFest will raise funds for Beaverdam-Richland Fire & Rescue
- 100 years of being Beavers: 2026 Bluffton University Homecoming, Oct. 2-4
- Beaverdam Bunch results from 2026 Allen County Junior Fair
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Bluffton University offers $1,000 annual award to enrollees who visit campus
- Pirate golf 3rd in NWC quad
- Pirate volleyball sweeps Elida
- Pirate boys soccer loss vs. Van Buren
- Pirate girls soccer win vs. Spencerville
- August 2026 land transfers in the Bluffton school district
- Bluffton alumnus to share grandmother's fight for U.S. citizenship