Latest Crimes of the Month

Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous has designated the following incidents as Crimes of the Month for February 2012. In each case, the reporting police agency is the source of the information.

• The Athens Police want information in regards to a home invasion that occurred in Athens during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. At approximately 12:15 a.m., two males forced their way into a residence on North Congress Street and confronted the husband and wife living there.

In the initial confrontation with the husband, one subject struck him in the head with a pipe and the other subject shot him in the leg with what was described as a small-caliber pistol. While one subject watched over the occupants of the house, the other went through the house dumping drawers and ransacking the residence. Both husband and wife were then bound and left on the floor when the two intruders left their home.

Numerous items were taken by the intruders prior to leaving, with a value totaling about $1,500. One intruder was described as 5'10" tall and approximately 200 pounds while the second intruder was described as being taller, approximately 6' and fairly skinny.  Both intruders covered their faces with masks of some type and were wearing gloves.

• The Nelsonville Police Department wants information about a large amount of copper tubing being stolen from Nelsonville. The copper tubing, being stored in a building on Railroad Street, was part of the system used to provide and maintain ice in the Nelsonville ice-skating rink that belongs to the Nelsonville Chamber of Commerce.

• The Athens County Sheriff's Office is seeking information regarding the stabbing death of an Athens County man in April of 2011.

April 12, 2011 at 4:48 p.m., officers of the Sheriff's Office were called to 5225 Gun Club Road, New Marshfield, in reference to a homicide. Found at the residence was James Braden McLain, 43. McLain had a number of stab and slash wounds about the head and the neck. The investigation into this homicide is continuing.

Sheriff's investigators believe at least two people were present when this happened. One would be the assailant, and "the other was just there when this happened."

• The Nelsonville Police Department is seeking information regarding recent bomb threats that have been received at the Nelsonville-York City Schools complex.  On Nov. 11, a bomb threat note was located in a girls bathroom at the high school, and then on Nov. 16, a bomb threat phone call was received. Both threats were unfounded, but unnecessary panic and disruption of school did result.

Anyone with information regarding the above crimes is encouraged to call Crime Solvers Anonymous at (740) 594-3331 with this information. If the information leads to the arrest and indictment of the people responsible, the caller will receive a $2,000 cash reward.

There are also cash rewards available for information regarding other crimes that have occurred but that have not been designated as Crimes of the Month.Anyone with information regarding any other crimes is asked to call Crime Solvers Anonymous at (740) 594-3331.

Information provided to Crime Solvers Anonymous will be given to the proper law enforcement agency.  Guidelines on the process of providing information and receiving cash rewards can be found at the website with prior crimes of the month also listed. Visit Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous at www.csaathens.org