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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > June > 05 > Entry
Commissioner Furmon helps nab paper thief
From this story:
A stakeout that led to a car chase, a car crash and one arrest — all over a 50-cent copy of the Hamilton JournalNews — made for an interesting morning for Butler County Commissioner Charles Furmon.
Police said newspapers may stop disappearing from driveways on Schultz Drive now that Terrell Wayne Shields, 25, was arrested at his work Thursday morning, June 4, and charged with criminal trespassing and theft.
The arrest followed a series of events that started with Furmon, a retired police officer who lives in the 600 block of Schultz, hiding in his truck and staking out his own driveway at around 5:30 a.m.
The 68-year-old commissioner said he saw the suspect pull up, exit his vehicle and casually take a newspaper from Furmon’s driveway. Furmon said he called police and followed the suspect, eventually writing down his license plate number and flashing his lights at him to get him to pull over on NW Washington Boulevard near Berkley Square.
Furmon said he walked up and confronted Shields, who replied, “What are you doing, man?”
Police said Shields — who lives in the 700 block of Schultz Drive — pulled away after Furmon’s next-door neighbor, Morris E. Shelly, pulled up behind Shields’ vehicle.
Shelley gave chase but ended up wrecking his fairly new Cadillac into a utility pole at the corner of West Elkton Road and NW Washington Boulevard, police said.
Shields had in his possession a copy of Furmon’s newspaper when he was arrested at his workplace in Enterprise Park, said Hamilton police Lt. Scott Scrimizzi. According to JournalNews circulation records, Shields had canceled his subscription the previous day.
Furmon said he wrote his initials on the front page of his paper so police could identify it, adding that he had to buy another copy.
“We told Chuck he’s getting too old to do this stuff,” Scrimizzi said.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: County Commission
Comments
By Rich
June 5, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this
“Shelley gave chase but ended up wrecking his fairly new Cadillac into a utility pole…” Unbelieveable. Over theft of a NEWSPAPER? No, nobody should condone any theft, but a fifty-cent NEWSPAPER? Questions that simply must be answered: Will Shelley’s auto insurance pay for this, or will Shields somehow be considered liable for repair or replacement costs? And why confront someone over theft of a NEWSPAPER, when you have the thief’s license plate number and can give that to the police, who after all are supposed to deal with crime? He could have had a gun, and it could have been far worse than simply wrecking a car while chasing him!
By Mark
June 5, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
Maybe if Furmon acted this way over the county budget, instead of a newspaper, then the county wouldn’t be in the financial disaster that it is in now. But I do see why he went after this guy, he pays for the paper with his own money, and he just can’t throw THAT around like he does the taxpayers money….
By Dan Lang
June 5, 2009 10:54 AM | Link to this
You don’t mess with my hero Dirty Harry. Once a cop, always a cop. Bookem Dano
By cheri
June 5, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this
Ever heard of a video camera? As a former police officer you would think he should be aware this guy might have had a gun!?People shoot for less these days! Get a life!
By cheri
June 5, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
Ever heard of a video camera? As a former police officer you would think he should be aware this guy might have had a gun!?People shoot for less these days! Get a life!
By Diana
June 5, 2009 12:22 PM | Link to this
I am thrilled Mr. Furmon took this action. It may have only been a newspaper but I am almost sure it wouldn’t have ended with that! It is the small stuff that gets them started. As for the wreck that wasn’t Furmon’s fault. We take responsibility for our own actions. I bet Shields thinks twice about stealing anything from now on!!!
By Dick
June 5, 2009 5:26 PM | Link to this
Chief Ferdelman and HPD must have been embarrassed that these to fellow are doing their job better than them. Giving a ticket is a little much Neil.
By TruetoTruth
June 5, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this
Mr.Sweigart, are you aware of what defamation of character is? Terrell Shields was not charged with criminal trespassing.
By Mike
June 7, 2009 11:00 PM | Link to this
Over a 50-cent paper? I read the Journal-News online for free.
By Theft is Theft
June 8, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this
This isn’t the first time as years ago even a Hamilton policeman was caught stealing papers from a vending machine. Back then, they were going for 25 cents.