A Yellow Springs native accused in the stabbing death of Leonid “Lonya” Clark has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal with the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.

Zyrian Atha-Arnett, who goes by the shorter last name Arnett, pleaded guilty also to separate charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence related to the Jan. 13, 2019, killing of his friend and former classmate.

Atha-Arnett, 28, entered his guilty pleas during a hearing Wednesday, July 21, in the Xenia courtroom of Greene County Common Please Court Judge Michael Buckwalter. He was represented by Dayton-based criminal attorney Jon Paul Rion.

The defendant, who grew up in Yellow Springs and attended YS schools, was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of felonious assault, a fourth-degree felony. The murder charges carried possible sentences of 15 years each, and the assault charge sentence was unspecified. He has remained behind bars at the Greene County Jail since his arrest Nov. 8, 2019.

In a sentencing hearing that immediately followed Wednesday’s plea hearing, Judge Buckwalter set terms of 11 years on the involuntary manslaughter charge, 36 months for abuse of a corpse and 12 months for tampering with evidence, to be served consecutively for a total of 15 years.

Also Wednesday, as part of the plea deal, Atha-Arnett pleaded guilty to child pornography charges unrelated to the Clark case. Originally charged in April this year with 25 counts of child porn, he entered guilty pleas on 10 of the counts; the court dismissed the other 15. Buckwalter set a sentence of 18 months on each of the 10, to be served concurrently, for a total of 18 months. That 18 months is to be served concurrently with the 15 years tied to Clark’s homicide, according to the judge’s ruling.

In the courtroom Wednesday were Atha-Arnett’s parents and two friends of the family; a network of Clark family members and friends; and representatives of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which worked together in pursuing the case.

Victim impact statements were entered into the record on behalf of several of Clark’s relatives. His stepmother, Jackie Clark, spoke directly to Atha-Arnett in an emotional address. “How could you hurt him? How could you hurt your friend? How could you run away and leave him there?” she asked.

Lonya Clark’ body was found April 12, 2019, in Glen Helen Nature Preserve, along the Little Miami River near the Grinnell Road bridge, almost three months to the day he was last reportedly seen alive, Jan.13. The coroner’s office ruled the cause of death as multiple stab wounds to his head and neck.

According to court records filed at the time of his indictment, multiple sources reported that Atha-Arnett sustained a serious cut to one of his hands on Jan. 13 and sought medical care for the injury three days later. His explanation for the cut reportedly changed several times.

Court records also show calls and texts with Clark that indicated plans to meet Jan. 13. While a total of 49 calls and texts between the two were logged from Dec. 24, 2018, through Jan. 13, all communication between them ceased after the 13th. Also according to the investigators’ documents, phone location technology indicated that Atha-Arnett stopped on the evening of Jan. 13 for more than a 90 minutes near the spot where Clark’s body was later found, and that he returned to the location 37 times between Jan. 14 and April 30.

Given a chance by Judge Buckwalter to make a statement Wednesday, Atha-Arnett declined, but his attorney, Rion, spoke, saying, “Mr. Arnett acknowledges this tragic situation. He knew the victim in this case from a very early age, and he’s trying to take some steps, this first step, for the healing process to begin.”

More details about the plea deal and sentencing will be included in next week’s print edition of the News.

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, the Village of Yellow Springs announced in a press release that Yellow Springs Police Chief Brian Carlson had resigned, effective immediately.

No reason was given for the resignation. Carlson did not provide a reason in his brief resignation letter, but wrote, “It has been an honor to serve the community of Yellow Springs and I offer my services to assist in your search for my replacement.” 

Attempts to reach Carlson by phone were not immediately successful.

In the press release, Village Manager Josué Salmerón thanked Carlson for his “tireless work to modernize our police force and progress made to create a social-justice oriented police department.” Salmerón noted that Carlson took the helm during a time of heightened scrutiny for local police and accomplished much to “increase community engagement, increase community policing and change local police culture.”

Carlson was promoted to interim police chief in January 2017, after the former chief resigned following community protest over aggressive police actions at the annual New Year’s Eve  celebration. Carlson was then hired as the permanent chief in June 2018, and most recently had his contract renewed in June 2019. He joined the local force in 2010. 

Carlson will assist with the leadership transition over the next 90 days and the search for a new police chief will begin immediately, the press release added.

“I’m proud of what we accomplished in a short period of time,” Salmerón wrote of Carlson’s tenure. “We have implemented foot patrols, bike patrols, improved community engagement, have built robust case management that extends beyond policing and includes mental health, and financial assistance with utilities and rent.”

A full story will appear in an upcoming issue of the News.

Read the full press release: VYS Press Release - Brian Carlson Resignation
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A Yellow Springs native accused in the stabbing death of Leonid “Lonya” Clark has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal with the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. Zyrian Atha-Arnett, who goes by the shorter last name Arnett, pleaded guilty also to separate charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence related to the Jan. 13, 2019, killing of his friend and former classmate.

Atha-Arnett, 28, entered his guilty pleas during a hearing Wednesday, July 21, in the Xenia courtroom of Greene County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Buckwalter. He was represented by Dayton-based criminal attorney Jon Paul Rion.

The defendant, who grew up in Yellow Springs and attended YS schools, was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of felonious assault, a fourth-degree felony.

The murder charges carried possible sentences of 15 years each, and the assault charge sentence was unspecified. He has remained behind bars at the Greene County Jail since his arrest on Nov. 8, 2019.

In a sentencing hearing that immediately followed last week’s plea hearing, Judge Buckwalter set terms of 11 years on the involuntary manslaughter charge, 36 months for abuse of a corpse and 12 months for tampering with evidence, to be served consecutively for a total of 15 years. He also ordered a restitution payment of $2,000.

Also last week, as part of the plea deal, Atha-Arnett pleaded guilty to child pornography charges unrelated to the Clark case. According to the prosecutor’s office, illegal images were discovered on Atha-Arnett’s computer during the homicide investigation. Originally charged in April of this year with 25 counts of child porn, Atha-Arnett entered guilty pleas on 10 of the counts; the court dismissed the other 15. Buckwalter set a sentence of 18 months on each of the 10, to be served concurrently, for a total of 18 months. That 18 months is to be served concurrently with the 15 years tied to Clark’s death, according to the judge’s ruling.

The judge also ruled that Atha-Arnett will be listed as a Tier II sex offender, and once he’s served his prison time, will be required to check in with the county authorities of his residence every 180 days for 25 years following his release.

As part of the plea deal, Atha-Arnett also waived the right to appeal his sentence in both cases.

In the courtroom Wednesday were Atha-Arnett’s parents and two friends of the family as well as a network of Clark family members and friends. Also present were representatives of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which worked together in pursuing the case.

Victim impact statements were entered into the record on behalf of several of Clark’s relatives. His stepmother, Jackie Clark, spoke directly to Atha-Arnett in an emotional address. “How could you hurt him? How could you hurt your friend? How could you run away and leave him there?” she asked.

The statement from Lonya’s father, Eric Clark, read to the court by Assistant Prosecutor Bill Morrison, noted Lonya’s many relationships within the village, where he was widely known and cherished, so much so that the Presbyterian Church was filled to overflowing for his celebration of life service. The father also noted that Lonya had mental health struggles that led to a semi-homeless lifestyle, but that he still had a positive effect on those he met.

Both parents expressed the devastation caused by Lonya’s killing, which occurred on his younger sister’s birthday.

Lonya Clark’s body was found April 12, 2019, in Glen Helen Nature Preserve, along the Little Miami River near the Grinnell Road bridge, almost three months to the day he was last reportedly seen alive, which turned out to be the day of his death, Jan.13. The coroner’s office ruled the cause of death as multiple stab wounds to his head and neck.

According to court records filed at the time of his indictment, multiple sources reported that Atha-Arnett sustained a serious cut to one of his hands on Jan. 13 and sought medical care for the injury three days later. His explanation for the cut reportedly changed several times.

Court records also show communication between Atha-Arnett and Clark that indicated plans to meet Jan. 13. A total of 49 calls and texts between the two were logged from Dec. 24, 2018, through Jan. 13, but their communication ceased after the 13th. Also according to the investigators’ documents, phone location technology indicated that Atha-Arnett stopped on the evening of Jan. 13 for more than 90 minutes near the spot where Clark’s body was later found, and that he returned to the location 37 times between Jan. 14 and April 30.

Given a chance by Judge Buckwalter to make a statement for the record, Atha-Arnett declined, but his attorney, Rion, spoke, saying, “Mr. Arnett acknowledges this tragic situation. He knew the victim in this case from a very early age, and he’s trying to take some steps, this first step, for the healing process to begin.”

Reached by phone this week, the victim’s father said Lonya’s family came to feel that the plea deal arrangement was probably the best outcome they could expect. The future safety of his family had been Clark’s biggest concern.

“Even after the 15 years [of incarceration], he’s still going to be more or less on community control for 25 years.”

Another concern for the family was getting answers to their many questions, which without a trial might not be addressed. They asked that the plea deal include a chance for Eric Clark to meet one-on-one with Atha-Arnett for an hour.

The defense agreed, and the meeting took place in the courthouse second-floor jury room immediately after last week’s sentencing hearing.

Clark said they were joined in the room by Jackie Clark, defense attorney Rion, several members of the prosecutor’s office and a sheriff’s deputy.

While Atha-Arnett had remained relatively stoic during the plea and sentencing hearings, he cried throughout the meeting with Clark, Eric Clark said. But Lonya’s father said he didn’t learn much from the interview.

He said Atha-Arnett contends that Lonya was exhibiting signs of his mental illness, saying things that didn’t make sense to Atha-Arnett and ultimately angered him. The two got into an argument that escalated into a fight.

“Zyrian had a weapon; Lonya didn’t,” Eric Clark said.

Still, Clark didn’t learn what “the trigger” was that led the larger Atha-Arnett into such a rage to inflict multiple, fatal stab wounds.

Clark said he doesn’t think Atha-Arnett knows either.

“We still have lots of unanswered questions,” Clark said, such as how did Lonya Clark’s debit card end up on the Antioch College campus, where it was found while he was still thought to be missing; and who put his coat, freshly laundered and neatly folded, under some stacked furniture in the Clark’s car port during that same time period? Atha-Arnett didn’t have those answers.

“He kept saying that he wished [Lonya] was alive,” Clark said.

“We’ll likely never know the whole story,” he said. “I’m not sure if I want to.”

The knowledge he’s left with is awareness of the pain and trauma experienced not only by his family and his son’s many friends, but also by the Arnett family.

“You’ve got to feel bad for all the people involved,” he said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, the Village of Yellow Springs announced in a press release that Yellow Springs Police Chief Brian Carlson had resigned.

Carlson has been the police chief for the last five years and an officer with the force since 2010.
In response to emailed questions, Carlson wrote that personal reasons compelled his decision, which was “very difficult.”

Asked if there was a precipitating incident Carlson responded, “My wife and I have been thinking this through for some time. We felt it was the right time.”

Reached by phone this week, Village Manager Josué Salmerón said Carlson “did an amazing job in the position.”

“The policing culture has moved in the right direction — in line with community values,” Salmerón said.

In the Village press release, Salmerón thanked Carlson for his “tireless work to modernize our police force and [the] progress made to create a social-justice-oriented police department.”

Carlson took the helm during a time of heightened scrutiny for local police, Salmerón added, and accomplished much to “increase community engagement, increase community policing and change local police culture.”

Carlson, who lives in Xenia Township, was promoted to interim police chief in January 2017, after former chief David Hale resigned following community protest over aggressive police actions at the annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Carlson was hired as the permanent chief that summer, and most recently had his contract renewed last year.

Reflecting on his time as chief, Carlson wrote that he felt he was “almost halfway” to accomplishing what he set out to do, and shared what he thought were some his greatest accomplishments, including implementing a “social justice plan for policing,” adding a social worker to the department, and starting more bike and foot patrols.

Others he listed included: “Stepping in at a horrible time in Yellow Springs and policing, and correcting the mindset here within the department. Being part of a Village team that faced the pandemic head on. Connecting the department with the community and finding officers who excel in communicating.”

Carlson provided some stability as the YSPD chief after brief and contentious stints in the position by Hale and Anthony Pettiford, who was hired when John Grote retired in 2012. Salmerón said that, before Carlson, the Village had struggled to find a suitable police chief in the vein of such venerated chiefs as Grote and longtime chief Jim McKee.

“We lost our way in these last 10 years, and Chief [Carlson] helped us find our way back,” he said.

Reforms at the YSPD were the focus of significant community effort over Carlson’s tenure, and he worked with citizens to implement many of the suggested improvements. Although the department withdrew from the county’s SWAT team and adopted its progressive “Guidelines for Village Policing” before Carlson became Chief, Carlson championed the creation of a part-time social worker position, which later became full-time, and instituted new training for officers in implicit bias and de-escalation. He also oversaw the implementation of new policies limiting the use of surveillance technology and Tasers and increased the use of the local Mayor’s Court.

During his tenure, Carlson was often praised for his style of community policing, which involved fewer vehicle stops and more focus on social services. He also came under fire for his handling of several incidents, including the hiring of Officer Richard Neel, who pulled a gun on an elderly citizen, and a phone conversation with a purported KKK member that some community members felt was too ­conciliatory.

In performance evaluations and police assessments during his first few years, Carlson received mixed reviews, with reviewers praising his skills in community engagement while saying he was lacking in the areas of policy and management. However, Carlson was recently given high praise in a 2020 review that led to an offer of a three-year contract with the department.

Carlson, in an email, touched on the challenges of being chief, which included “losing community members in such tragic ways and constantly facing false accusations fueled by hate and social media.”

Asked what advice he would give the incoming chief, Carlson suggested they focus on community outreach, continue to update policies, support the social worker position and “fight for funds to put these dedicated officers into body-worn ­cameras.”

“This is not a job but rather a lifestyle,” he added. “This is a working Chief’s position. You need to be physically and mentally able to assist on every type of call for service, and fill in shifts when scheduling gets tight. The public likes to see you out, and the hours of service and meetings are very long.”

Carlson will assist with the leadership transition over the next 90 days. Salmerón said he hoped an interim police chief would not have to be named, and that a new chief would take over directly from Carlson.

Meanwhile, the search for a new police chief has begun. Salmerón is currently updating the police chief job description to include a more robust description of the Yellow Springs community and its values and is assembling a citizen group to screen applicants.

Looking ahead, Carlson said he has no plans for other employment and looks forward to spending more time with his family. A musician, Carlson joked that he might “become a rock star or work at a hardware store — O.K. maybe not a rock star.” He may also stay in the field of policing.

“I have been approached about doing consulting work to share this model of social work hand-in-hand with policing,” he wrote.

Carlson also shared gratitude for Salmerón for his “constant support in my efforts to change policing in Yellow Springs” and for the larger community.

“I want to thank the community for believing in me, and placing their trust in my dedication to public safety. It has truly been an honor and I love this community.”

As Chief Brian Carlson drove toward Mills Lawn Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 14, students cheered and waved signs saying “thank you” and “goodbye.”

Carlson, who has been with the Yellow Springs Police Department for 12 years — five of those as chief — is leaving the force in November.

Members of Village Council, Mayor Pam Conine, Superintendent Terri Holden, Principal Megan Winston, school Counselor John Gudgel and representatives from the Mills Lawn Student Council greeted Carlson and spoke about his dedication to the safety of students.

“We want to say ‘thank you,’ and this is the time to do it,” Gudgel said.

Conine led a group of fifth graders in a call and response cheer: “When I say ‘thank you,’ you say ‘chief.’”

The crowd of onlookers joined in the cheer, which added to the sounds of laughter from students on the nearby playground.

Village Council Vice President Marianne MacQueen thanked Carlson on behalf of Council and Village staff.

“You are a man with a big heart, which is what we have needed and wanted in a police chief, because you understand the values of the community,” MacQueen said. “I appreciate the work that you’ve done, and while I know we will miss you, I am hopeful that you will move on to something enjoyable.”

Winston also thanked Carlson for the care and support he provided to the elementary school.

“I thank Chief Carlson for adopting the Mills Lawn students and staff and allowing them to be part of his family and treating them as such,” she said.

Superintendent Holden remarked on the culture of service that Carlson created in the village during his tenure as chief.

“As superintendent of schools and a resident of Yellow Springs, I know you have really worked hard to change the perception of the police department to one of a servant organization while keeping the community safe,” Holden said. “We’ve noticed it, we’ve appreciated it and we will truly miss you.”

After Holden’s remarks, members of Student Council presented Carlson with a plaque to honor his years of service to the community.

“Thank you, Chief,” the students said.

Carlson gave a short speech, saying that the connection between the department and the schools has been “pivotal.” He said that he is proud of the work he has been able to do, calling it “a great honor.”

In the last part of his speech, Carlson credited his wife for his ability to cope with the demands of the job.

“It’s difficult for the family members that police officers return home to every night.” he said. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for all the support you’ve given me in my 12 years here.”

Village Manager Josué Salmerón has named recently promoted Sgt. Paige Burge as acting chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department until a new full-time chief is appointed. 

The appointment occurred on Chief Brian Carlson’s last day Friday, Nov. 12. Carlson announced his resignation plans in August. 

Burge has been with YSPD since 2019, when she joined as a foot patrol officer. She was promoted to sergeant in August after the departure of Naomi Watson. Hailing from Fairborn, Burge will be YSPD’s first female and LGBTQ+ chief. Prior to her service with YSPD, Burge worked in the private sector in asset protection for 10 years. 

In a press release issued Friday afternoon, Salmerón said Burge has “demonstrated an exemplary work ethic, a commitment to community engagement, and responsive and engaged leadership, as both patrol officer and sergeant.”

When reached by phone, Salmerón said Burge will be sworn in as interim chief at Village Council’s regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 15. He said naming an acting chief for the weekend will ensure continuity in the level of service YSPD provides to villagers. However, Salmerón said the Village is continuing its search for a permanent replacement as full-time chief. 

“With an acting chief, there will be less pressure on the selection committee to make a quick decision,” Salmerón said. “I’m looking for someone who is mindful of the culture of Yellow Springs and can engage with the different groups within the community.”

Salmerón said a knowledge of the community and a willingness to create a police department that aligns with Village values are just two qualities that the search committee is looking for in Carlson’s replacement. 

Carlson was with YSPD for 12 years, with five of those years serving as chief. Under his tenure the police department underwent many changes, including the addition of a full-time social worker, increased bike and foot patrols and implicit bias training for officers. 

Reflecting on the process of selecting a new, permanent chief, Salmerón said that he wants to make sure the candidates are ready to fill Carlson’s shoes. 

“I don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past, when the interviewee looks good on paper but is not a good fit here,” he said. “I want to avoid that because we have done so much work to change the culture of our police department.” 

“If it means taking our time, we’ll do that,” Salmerón said.

The post Sgt. Paige Burge named acting chief of YSPD appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer died unexpectedly Tuesday evening, Nov. 16.

An email from the Sheriff’s Office sent to local media Tuesday night said that Fischer had been attending an Ohio sheriff’s convention in Sandusky when around 9 p.m. he “suffered a medical emergency.” He was taken to a nearby hospital “where he was pronounced dead shortly after.”

Fischer, 65, was first appointed sheriff in 2003 and returned to office by county voters in subsequent elections. Prior to his tenure as sheriff, Fischer served 20 years as a Xenia police officer.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he graduated from Fairborn Park Hills High School in 1974 and went on to earn an associate degree in law enforcement from Clark Technical College, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Capital University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University.

Expressions of condolence shared Tuesday night and Wednesday morning on social media noted Fischer’s dedicated service and care for the community.

The post Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer dies appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Atha-Arnett sentenced

In July, Yellow Springs native Zyrian Atha-Arnett, accused in the stabbing death of Leonid “Lonya” Clark, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal with the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. Atha-Arnett also pleaded guilty to separate charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence related to the Jan. 13, 2019, killing of his friend and former classmate.

Atha-Arnett was sentenced to 11 years on the involuntary manslaughter charge, 36 months for abuse of a corpse and 12 months for tampering with evidence, to be served consecutively for a total of 15 years and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. Atha-Arnett also pleaded guilty to 10 counts of child pornography charges. He was sentenced to 18 months on each count, to be served concurrently with the 15 years tied to Clark’s death.

On Friday Nov, 12, Village Manager Josué Salmerón appointed Sgt. Paige Burge (left) as acting chief of Yellow Springs Police Department. Burge succeeds Brian Carlson (right) after his 12 years of service. (Photo by Matt Minde)

Carlson resigns, Burge acting chief

In August, Chief Brian Carlson resigned from the Village police department, saying the resignation was a personal decision he made alongside his wife. Carlson had been with the department since 2010, serving as chief for the last five years. He said that implementing a “social justice plan” for policing, adding a social worker to the department and starting more bike and foot patrols were among his biggest accomplishments during his tenure as chief.

Carlson’s last day as chief was Nov. 12; that day, Village Manager Josué Salmerón appointed recently promoted Sgt. Paige Burge as acting chief until a new full-time chief is found. The appointment allowed more time for the police chief search committee to find a chief who is in line with the village’s values, according to Salmerón. Burge has been with YSPD since 2019, when she joined as a foot patrol officer. She was promoted to sergeant in August after the departure of Naomi Watson. Hailing from Fairborn, Burge will be YSPD’s first female and LGBTQ+ chief.

At the July 29 Greene County Commissioner’s hearing on building a new jail, Kathryn LeVesconte, a clinical psychologist from Yellow Springs, asserted that jails are not the solution to addiction and mental health crises facing our county. She wants to see rehabilitation services as a part of the plans for the proposed jail and tax increase. Greene County Prosecutor David Hayes, left, spoke in favor of the new facility. (Photo by Jessica Thomas)

Jail levy voted down again

In November, Greene County voters rejected Issue 1, a proposal from the Greene County Board of Commissioners to increase the county sales tax by .25% to build a new jail, with 13,334 voting against the measure and 10,807 approving it. The result is in part a victory for members of the Greene County Coalition for Compassionate Justice, who campaigned against the proposal. A similar levy was also voted down in 2020.

Sheriff Gene Fischer dies

Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer died unexpectedly on Nov. 16. Fischer had been attending an Ohio sheriff’s convention in Sandusky where he suffered a “medical emergency.” Fischer, 65, was first appointed sheriff in 2003 and returned to office by county voters in subsequent elections. Prior to his tenure as sheriff, Fischer served 20 years as a Xenia police officer.

CRB talks continue

In December, Council voted to approve the allocation of $15,000 for the establishment of a village citizen review board, or CRB, which would address police misconduct. The funds will cover the cost of establishing the CRB in 2022. Details such as the size, scope, policies and procedures of the proposed CRB are still being discussed

The post 2021 in Review | Legal & Law Enforcement appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Yellow Springs physician Dr. Donald Gronbeck is the subject of a criminal investigation.

After the State Medical Board of Ohio suspended Gronbeck’s medical license on Wednesday, Jan. 19, investigators arrived at his Dayton Street medical office, Yellow Springs Primary Care, on Jan. 20 to execute a search warrant. An ongoing investigation of Gronbeck, led by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, is related to allegations of sexual misconduct.

In an email to the News on Jan. 20, State Medical Board Communications Officer Jerica Stewart said the board convened a special hearing on Jan. 19 via videoconference and voted to issue a “Notice of Summary Suspension and Opportunity for Hearing to Donald Gronbeck, M.D., effective immediately.”

Stewart wrote: “A summary suspension suspends a license to practice prior to a hearing based on clear and convincing evidence that continued practice by the licensee poses a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.”

Gronbeck has 30 days to request a hearing and is entitled to a hearing within seven to 15 days of the request.

The state medical board is prohibited by law from sharing details about individual complaints.

According to investigators, Gronbeck is accused of having sexual relationships and inappropriate contact with patients.

Gronbeck, a 2002 graduate of Antioch College, received his medical degree in 2009 from the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University, and worked for Miami Township Fire-Rescue. He is board certified to practice family and addiction medicine.

Gronbeck opened Yellow Springs Primary Care in 2014 and was also contracted by Antioch College as the school physician for a short time. In 2018, Dr. Jessica Gallaher joined the practice as its only other physician.

According to a News article about Gronbeck when he first opened the practice in 2014, he wanted to treat a range of ages with a focus on wellness care, including osteopathic manipulation, ultrasound testing, small surgical procedures and limited lab testing. He told the News he believed that wellness is best achieved in a place like Yellow Springs, which supports the whole person, including access to healthy food and strong community ties — things that make his job as a physician easier.

After fielding a call from one of Gronbeck’s patients asking how to get prescriptions filled and have medical issues addressed during the investigation, the News contacted Yellow Springs Primary care for information, but the call was not returned. The News will provide any updates regarding patient queries as they become available.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office has created an online tip link through its website to report any information regarding Gronbeck and Yellow Springs Primary Care.

Go to http://www.greenecountyohio.gov/486/Sheriff and follow the link on the page to make a report. According to the Sheriff’s Office, sharing personal information is optional, but is needed if the investigation team has questions for the respondent.

A full and updated story will appear in the Jan. 27 issue of the News.

The post Local doctor under investigation, license suspended appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Editor’s Note: The following article includes details of alleged sexual misconduct that may be disturbing to readers. Please note comments on our site have been disabled for this article.

People who wish to report an incident are encouraged to contact the Greene County Sheriff’s office through this link and are also encouraged to contact the Victim/Witness Division of the Greene County Victim Advocates Team. Services are available 24-hours a day. For assistance during business hours, call 937-562-5087, or Central Communications at 937-376-5111 after hours and on weekends, and request the Victim/Witness Division on-call advocate.

Yellow Springs physician Dr. Donald Gronbeck is currently the subject of a criminal investigation.

After the State Medical Board of Ohio suspended Gronbeck’s medical license on Wednesday, Jan. 19, law enforcement investigators arrived at his Dayton Street medical office, Yellow Springs Primary Care, on Jan. 20 to execute a search warrant.

An ongoing investigation of Gronbeck, led by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, or BCI, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, is related to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Gronbeck, a 2002 graduate of Antioch College, received his medical degree in 2009 from the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University, and worked for a time with Miami Township Fire-Rescue. Gronbeck opened Yellow Springs Primary Care in 2014 and was also at one time contracted by Antioch College as its campus physician.

In 2018, Dr. Jessica Gallagher joined Yellow Springs Primary Care as its only other physician. Gallagher seems to have left the practice, but the News could not confirm the details of her departure.

In an email to the News on Jan. 20, State Medical Board Communications Officer Jerica Stewart said the board convened a special hearing on Jan. 19 via videoconference and voted to issue a

“Notice of Summary Suspension and Opportunity for Hearing to Donald Gronbeck, M.D., effective immediately.”

Stewart wrote: “A summary suspension suspends a license to practice prior to a hearing based on clear and convincing evidence that continued practice by the licensee poses a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.”

Gronbeck has 30 days from the date of his suspension to request a hearing and is entitled to a hearing within seven to 15 days of the request. Up until his suspension, Gronbeck was board certified in family and addiction medicine.

The state medical board is prohibited by law from sharing details about individual complaints.
According to investigators, Gronbeck is accused of having sexual relationships and inappropriate contact with patients and illegally distributing prescription drugs.

The News was not able to obtain a copy of the search warrant and has received very little information about the criminal investigation. A public records request was submitted to the BCI on Jan. 20, asking for information about the nature of the investigation, along with a copy of the warrant.

A public records request submitted by the News to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office was forwarded to the BCI by Sheriff’s representative Amy O’Brien on Jan. 21.

In a Jan. 24 letter signed by BCI chief legal counsel Zahid H. Siddiqi, the News was told that, “… any BCI records potentially responsive to your request are investigatory work product in a criminal law enforcement matter that has not concluded and are therefore confidential law enforcement investigatory records … exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act to the extent that their disclosure would create a high probability that investigative work product (and other exempt matters) would be revealed.”

The News also asked the Yellow Springs Police if they were notified that a search warrant would be executed at Gronbeck’s medical practice.

“I wish I could be more helpful, but all inquiries should be directed to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office,” Interim Chief Paige Burge responded in an email.

Investigators from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office arrived Thursday, Jan. 20, at the Dayton Street medical office of Dr. Donald Gronbeck, Yellow Springs Primary Care, to execute a search warrant. An ongoing investigation of Gronbeck is related to allegations of sexual misconduct. (Photo by Jessica Thomas)

Patients left with questions

In a News article from 2014, when Yellow Springs Primary Care opened, Gronbeck was quoted as saying that he wanted to treat a range of ages with a focus on wellness care, including osteopathic manipulation, ultrasound testing, small surgical procedures and limited lab testing.

After the warrant was served at the practice on Jan. 20, the News fielded multiple inquiries from YS Primary Care patients who reported that they had received no communication from Gronbeck’s office since then, with some needing information on how to fill prescriptions and address ongoing medical issues.

The News contacted Yellow Springs Primary Care for information, but calls were not returned.

There is currently a sign on the door of the practice stating the office is closed “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

The News has been unable to provide any verifiable updates regarding patient queries from Gronbeck’s office, but will do so as they become available.

Other local medical practices appear to be stepping up to help patients, including Community Physicians, an affiliate of Kettering Health Medical Group, whose offices are located near Yellow Springs Primary Care.

Over the weekend, Katie Blocher, who manages Community Physicians, posted on the Yellow Springs Bulletin Board Facebook page that the practice is prepared to bring on additional providers if needed to meet the needs of patients from Gronbeck’s office seeking care. Patients can call 937-767-7291 for further information on doctors and to schedule appointments.

Editor’s Note: Two women who identified themselves as former patients of Gronbeck spoke to the News last week on the condition that they remain anonymous because of safety concerns. Their narratives — along with the order written by the state medical board that prompted the immediate suspension of Gronbeck — describe details of alleged sexual misconduct. The News warns that some details may be disturbing to readers.

Former patients speak out

The 10-member State Medical Board of Ohio posted the order to suspend Gronbeck’s license on its website last week after taking a vote to approve the suspension. Seven voted in favor of suspension, while three members abstained from voting. Eight patients, identified by number, were mentioned in the order.

According to the order, Gronbeck stands accused of touching or groping six of the eight patients in a sexual manner, and of engaging in sexually explicit conversation with a patient via a messaging app called “Cover Me,” in which messages disappear rapidly and are not saved.

Gronbeck is also accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with an employee, whom he was also treating as a patient, and of prescribing patches of Rivastigmine — a drug authorized to treat dementia — to the same employee. That employee was allegedly instructed to hand the patches out to other office staff, and two of the eight patients referred to in the order, also employed by

Yellow Springs Primary Care, received Rivastigmine patches in this manner.

According to the board, some of the actions Gronbeck is accused of constitute felonies, including sexual battery and misconduct and drug distribution. The board also has the right to authorize a financial penalty of up to $20,000.

Following Gronbeck’s suspension, two village women came forward to describe their own experiences with Gronbeck. While both were candid when speaking to the News, neither wished to be identified.

“I want the community to know that the abuse he’s inflicted has been widespread and an open public secret for many years,” one woman said during a phone call with the News. Her encounter with Gronbeck as a patient occurred in 2017, when she was a 20-year-old Antioch College student, and he was the physician contracted by the college to treat students.

The woman said she visited Gronbeck for a refill of a birth control prescription after her regular doctor was unable to see her.

“I expected an easy process, but he was very insistent on performing a pelvic and breast exam,” the woman said, noting that she was up-to-date on routine gynecological exams at the time.

The woman said that Gronbeck called another Antioch staffer — a member of the college’s kitchen staff — into the examination room while he performed the exam.

“I thought that was strange,” the woman said, and added that the kitchen staffer seemed uncomfortable too.

The woman also said that, during the course of the exam, Gronbeck made inappropriate comments about her body.

“He told me I had very firm, full breasts,” she said. “I felt something weird was going on, but I felt vulnerable and didn’t say anything,” she said.

The woman told the News that she had experienced sexual assault in the past and felt triggered by her experience with Gronbeck.

“It’s very scary to realize that I was trusting someone who I thought had the best intentions but was using their power to do an unnecessary medical procedure,” she said.

According to the woman, other women who were students had filed complaints with Antioch’s public safety officer. The woman is unsure of how many women reported Gronbeck’s behavior, but believes at least 10 women were involved.

According to Antioch’s Sexual Offense Prevention Policy, or SOPP, “Non-consensual sexual behavior, verbal and physical sexual harassment are not tolerated at Antioch College. Antioch College strongly encourages students, faculty and staff and visitors to report any violations of local, state, and federal law or conduct deemed inappropriate under this policy, to the college’s Title IX Coordinators, or when appropriate, to law enforcement officials.”

The woman told the News that when she heard that the reports were not being addressed, she didn’t report her own experience. Instead, she warned as many women as she could about Gronbeck.

The woman also said she feels that Antioch College was not supportive of the women who reported Gronbeck.

“[Antioch] swept it under the rug — no one was doing anything,” she said. “It’s really disgusting. It makes me really sad. It just goes to show how far [our society] will go to not support victims.”

The events reported by the woman occurred during the previous administration under former President Tom Manley. Calls and an email sent by the News to the college before this story was published were not returned, and the News could not verify the circumstances under which Gronbeck left the college nor establish his official separation date as the campus doctor.

(Ed. note: Antioch College President Jane K. Fernandes published a statement regarding the ongoing investigation in the Feb. 3 issue of the News; while the statement did not comment on the circumstances surrounding Gronbeck’s departure as campus doctor, it did specify the years he retained that position as 2015–19. The statement also expressed regret from Fernandes over “any breach of trust in Antioch’s Sexual Offense Prevention Policy that [news of the investigation] may have caused,” and outlined the steps Antioch intends to take to “scrutinize [its] policies, procedures and practices” moving forward. To read the statement in full, click here.)

However, according to an email written on Sept. 16, 2019, by former Antioch dean Susan Lee, and forwarded to the News by the woman, Gronbeck was still affiliated with the college after students reported his alleged conduct.

The email reads: “[An option for medical care] is the Yellow Springs Primary Care office of family practice physicians Donald Gronbeck, MD and Jessica Gallagher MD, located one and a half miles from campus; seven minutes by bike and 20 minutes on foot.” The email goes on to inform students that a medical visit to his practice is not free, and that they will need insurance and any co-pay to cover the visit.

A second woman also spoke to the News and asked not to be identified. The woman, who is in her 50s, said she started going to Gronbeck for treatment at the end of 2014 or early 2015. She decided on Gronbeck because, at that time, he was marketing himself as running a holistically oriented practice.

“I don’t go to the doctor very often but wanted to establish a base,” she said.

The woman said that, in 2017 or 2018, she sustained an injury that resulted in a pinched nerve in her hip.

“The pain was so bad I couldn’t stand up. My mother drove me to the office, and I went in on a walker,” she said.

The woman said that, in the treatment room, Gronbeck asked her to lie down on her stomach so that he could treat her back. Another medical practitioner, whom the woman identified as an intern, was present in the room, and the woman said Gronbeck carted in an “industrial-sized vibrator machine.”

“Without warning, [Gronbeck] began using it on my back, moving it to my hip, and then working his way to my inner thighs,” the woman said. “He told me if this didn’t work, he may have to work on [the hip] vaginally.”

The woman’s mother, who also spoke to the News, was in the treatment room with her daughter and witnessed the incident. She reiterated what the woman had said, stating that Gronbeck “used the vibrator across [her daughter’s] legs and pelvic bones and offered to put it inside” her daughter, whom she said told Gronbeck, “That’s not happening.”

The woman explained that, even though the experience felt “off” to her, she decided to give Gronbeck another try, saying she still trusted him as a medical professional. In 2018, she returned to Gronbeck after twisting her knee, this time going to the office alone.

She said that typically, a nurse would remain in the room with the doctor, but this time left the room after completing the woman’s medical chart, leaving her by herself. According to the woman, during this visit, Gronbeck acted differently. Usually neat and presentable, he appeared rushed and disheveled.

“After examining my knee, without any warning, he reached his hand down my shirt and inside my bra, groping my breast for several moments, mumbling something about there being a pressure point in the vicinity of my breast and it being a way to treat the knee,” she said.

According to the woman, Gronbeck was also pressing his penis against her arm while groping her breast. She said the experience lasted about five minutes.

“I was confused, more horrified, and if it had gone on much longer, I would have pushed him off,” the woman said.

After this experience, the woman stopped seeing Gronbeck, and like the other woman who spoke to the News, warned as many people as she could about his behavior. She’s glad to know that an investigation into his practice is taking place, saying that she wants to make sure “it counts.”

The News will continue to update readers on developments related to this story.

To read the full document from the State Medical Board of Ohio, visit the YS News website at ysnews.com/?p=98324.

Editor’s Note: This article was edited to correct a reporting error that appeared in the printed version of the Jan. 27 issue of the News.

The Village of Yellow Springs announced this week that three candidates are currently being considered for the position of police chief.

A public forum featuring the candidates will be held Tuesday, March 1, beginning at 6 p.m., in the Bryan Center gym. The forum will also be livestreamed via Zoom at bit.ly/3HdXJdd. Village Council will interview the candidates in executive session on Wednesday, March 2.

Profiles of the three candidates will appear in the March 3 issue of the News.

Several months after naming an interim chief to fill the position left by Brian Carlson, Village Manager Josué Salmerón has announced three finalists for Chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department: Paige Burge, Selvain McQueen and Keith Salyers.

The finalists met with community members in a meet and greet on Tuesday, March 1, and interviewed with Village Council members in an executive session on Wednesday, March 2.

The News asked each of the candidates to submit a short biography and answer the following three questions about their policing vision.

1. Over the past five years, the YSPD has worked to decrease the number of citizen-police encounters for nonviolent offenses. How will that trajectory continue under your leadership?

2. The Justice System Task Force and The 365 Project co-authored the “Guidelines for Village Policing” document which called for policing that abides by four principles: safety-centered, resolution-oriented, locally minded and demonstrably inclusive. How will your work as police chief incorporate those principles?

3. Transparency in local policing has long been important to villagers, but has been particularly at the forefront of discussion around policing needs following a controversial police incident at an annual New Year’s Eve event in the first minutes of 2017. Since then, discussion of transparency has grown to include work toward a citizen review board and greater accountability from the Police Department in terms of active antiracism. How do you intend to ensure that local policing remains open to public scrutiny and focused on confronting racial biases?

PAIGE BURGE

I obtained my associates degree from Eastern Gateway Community College in 2020. I have 15 years experience in the criminal justice field with the last three at the YSPD in various roles, including patrol officer, sergeant and now Interim Chief. My wife and I currently reside just six miles outside of town in Fairborn but I grew up a little bit of everywhere; born in England, moved to Washington D.C., North Carolina and eventually residing in several different cities in Ohio. At the start of my law enforcement career it was my dream to work for a community that aligned with my personal and professional goals, which is why I found myself in Yellow Springs.

1. As a member of the team that played a role in implementing these practices, you don’t fix what isn’t broken, but you can improve upon them. Our team will continue to approach every interaction with safety at the forefront. However, a part of my vision for the future of YSPD is to not only decrease non-safety issue interactions but to increase non-enforcement interactions. A fundamental part of community policing is the interactions officers and citizens have when both of them engage as two community members working toward a common goal versus two separate entities unaware of the other’s goals.

2. Every interaction is about safety, period. It is my belief that if the YSPD team keeps this simple perspective in focus, that we exist to keep the community safe, every other guideline for village police falls into place. To support this, officers will participate in activities that make them better peacekeepers, such as regular and frequent officer wellness and community engagement events. Healthy officers and healthy officer-citizen relationships will result in resolution-oriented outcomes and locally minded team members who engage positively with the citizens they serve in a way that is demonstrably inclusive.

3. I recently worked with a group of our community members to put together a proposal for the use of body-worn cameras, or BWCs. This group was a prime example of Peelian’s principle: “The police are the public and the public are the police” — community members working with police to reach a common goal. Justice does not often fit the mold of public opinion, but as leaders in law enforcement it’s our job to ensure we do just that. The introduction of groups such as citizen review boards and new technology such as BWCs provide necessary accountability tools that offer the community the transparency necessary to achieve police legitimacy.

SELVAIN MCQUEEN

​​Retired Chief Selvain McQueen served 26 years with the Columbus, Mississippi, police pepartment. He has certifications as a public manager, advanced voice stress analyzer and police instructor. McQueen completed the Mississippi FBI Command College, FBI and Homeland Security Instructor Development courses, and majored in mass communications at Jackson State University.

He has been decorated for saving lives in the line of duty, and was chosen Officer of the Year in 1997. He represented the State of Mississippi at the 10th annual Homeland Security celebration.
A 17-year veteran of the Detectives Division, McQueen served as the Training Academy director.

1. Current personnel will be monitored to ensure there are no indications of profiling of any kind. The best solution to this problem should take place during the hiring process. Potential candidates should be screened to ensure that they possess no biases rising to this level of concern. Polygraphs, voice stress analyzers and psychological examinations are useful tools in this effort. And if all else fails, and an officer is found to be in violation, I will make recommendations to the Village Mayor and Council concerning their misconduct. Officers will be held accountable for their actions!

2. A survey instrument would be developed to allow current officers to know how they are performing in the public eye. We would also meet with village citizens to determine their concerns. Afterwards, we would make any changes or modifications as deemed necessary. Addressing safety issues within the community will be a major concern. The police department is not at war with the citizenry. We are all in this together. We will either sink or swim collectively. We will move from a warrior mentality to a guardian mentality.

3. Police are public servants and must engage more. Crime is only one element of policing. People now want to see the presence of justice within communities. Policing strategies must change as well as police and public mindsets. Everyone has some kind of bias, whether it’s gender, race, political affiliation, sexual orientation or something else. Training and awareness is the key to managing it, so that it doesn’t impact our jobs. We must sit down and come up with solutions for all stakeholders. To the community, I promise an open, accountable, accessible police department responsive to your concerns. I hope that, someday, all of the citizens will be willing to suspend judgment when a critical incident takes place until all the facts are in. Treating you with dignity and respect will be our down payment on earning your trust. But you must do your part. The Yellow Springs Police Department needs your support and acceptance.

KEITH SALYERS

My police experience of 32 years began in 1990 with West Carrollton Police Department. I was at Madison Township Police Department for two years before seeking the small-knit community of Bellbrook. I spent 24 years at Bellbrook, where I was a patrol officer, detective, field training officer, officer in charge and sergeant. After corporate policing at UC Health in Cincinnati for two-and-a-half years, I’m looking forward to community policing. I have honed abilities in crime scene processing and criminal investigation, a large range of administrative responsibilities providing a solid foundation for the police chief position.

1. Trajectory: Present work to continue. Close review of training files and training programs for crisis intervention team, de-escalating methods. Open door policy for the citizens, business owners and officers.

2. Safety-Centered: Elevate community involvement with cultural activities, improving trust relationships.

Resolution-Oriented: Solutions situation approach to be equal and unbiased to be neutral and reach a fair resolution.

Locally Minded: Accountability to citizens, businesses, council, and the police department.

3. How to Incorporate: My responsibility to oversee daily operations and ensure policies accountability.

Transparency and Culture: Education of correct police procedures.

The post Police Chief candidates introduced appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Nearly eight months after the resignation of Brian Carlson, Interim Chief Paige Burge has been named the chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department.

A resident of Fairborn, Burge is the first woman and member of the LGBTQ+ community to take the helm of the YSPD. She has worked for the Village Police Department for the last three years since completing her training in police academy.

Village Council approved Village Manager Josué Salmerón’s recommendation for her appointment at Council’s Monday, March 21 regular meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. 

“What factored into the decision is what we have been trying to build as far as the Village’s approach to policing,” Salmerón said in an interview. “Paige is the clear choice.”

Burge was named interim chief in November in Carlson’s stead after being promoted to sergeant in August. Prior to her tenure as a police officer, Burge worked in asset protection, most recently as the district loss prevention investigator for Marmaxx, the parent company of TJ Maxx. 

In an interview, Village Council President Brian Housh said that he was “incredibly excited” about Burge’s appointment. Housh, who was one of two Council members on the selection committee, said that he was impressed with the process and how easily the group came to its decision to recommend Burge for the chief position. 

“They all saw that Paige gets it,” Housh said. “Even some of the folks who were initially resistant realized that she was a good fit.”

In an emailed statement regarding her appointment, Burge wrote: 

“The last four to five months have been the greatest opportunity of my professional career. When I came to work for the Village of Yellow Springs I felt incredibly lucky to work for a community and an organization that aligned so closely with my own personal beliefs. I knew almost immediately that I didn’t want to police in any other community. I am humbled that the many groups involved in the selection process have entrusted me with the great responsibility that this position entails.” 

For more extensive coverage of Burge’s appointment and Monday’s Village Council meeting, see this week’s print edition of the Yellow Springs News.

The post Paige Burge named Yellow Springs Police Chief appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Nearly eight months after the resignation of Brian Carlson, Interim Chief Paige Burge has been named the chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department. She is the first woman and member of the LGBTQ+ community to take the helm of the YSPD.

Village Council voted to approve Village Manager Josué Salmerón’s recommendation at its Monday, March 21, regular meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom.

“What factored into the decision is what we have been trying to build as far as the Village’s approach to policing,” Salmerón said in an interview. “Paige is the clear choice.”

Burge, who has been with the department for three years, was named interim chief in November after being promoted to sergeant in August. Prior to her tenure as a Yellow Springs police officer, Burge worked in asset protection, most recently as the district loss prevention investigator for Marmaxx, the parent company of TJ Maxx.

In an interview, Council President Brian Housh said that he was “incredibly excited” about Burge’s appointment. Housh, who was one of two Council members on the selection committee, said he was impressed with the process and how easily the group came to its decision to recommend Burge for the chief position.

“They all saw that Paige gets it,” Housh said. “Even some of the folks who were initially resistant realized that she was a good fit.”

In an emailed statement regarding her appointment, Burge wrote:
“The last four to five months have been the greatest opportunity of my professional career. When I came to work for the Village of Yellow Springs I felt incredibly lucky to work for a community and an organization that aligned so closely with my own personal beliefs. I knew almost immediately that I didn’t want to police in any other community. I am humbled that the many groups involved in the selection process have entrusted me with the great responsibility that this position entails.”

According to Salmerón, the months-long process included vetting by Village staff, Village Council members and community members. Members of the community group included TJ Turner, Nya Brevik, David Turner, Bill Randolph, Kate Hamilton, Scott Osterholm, Luciana Lieff and Steve McQueen.

Members of the police department support panel included Florence Randolph, the community outreach specialist; Ruth Peterson, a member of the dispatch team; officers Doug Andrus and Jeff Beam; and Mayor Pam Conine.

In separate interviews about the candidate selection process, Osterholm and McQueen said that the citizen group vetted each candidate thoroughly, and that it met weekly to review candidates.

“We were looking for certain qualities,” McQueen said. “When it came down to the final discussions, two candidates really shone.”

Osterholm said Burge was each committee members’ first or second choice.

“It wasn’t a unanimous decision, but I think she’ll do a fabulous job,” he said.

Both Salmerón and Housh said that Burge had overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community surveys circulated after the Police Chief Candidates Forum, which was held on Tuesday, March 1. According to Salmerón, 61 villagers responded to the survey between March 1 and Wednesday, March 9.

The only two categories Burge scored lower in, Salmerón said, were budget experience and human relations or management experience.

Burge rose quickly through the ranks of the YSPD, beginning her tenure in early 2019. She was appointed sergeant in August of 2021 by then Chief Brian Carlson. According to Salmerón, Carlson evaluated Burge and other candidates and Burge scored the highest. Being the top-ranking officer when Carlson resigned, Burge was tapped for interim chief.

Since then, Salmerón said that Burge has made positive changes within the department and has a vision for “community-minded” policing.

“There isn’t a clear manual of what to do with the future of policing,” Salmerón said. “Police are increasingly responding to calls that are a symptom of larger problems within the community.”

Burge has been working with Council members and villagers on two initiatives: creating a citizen review board for the police department and writing a best-use policy for body-worn cameras that protects the privacy of citizens.

“This community has high expectations of its police department, as any community should,” Burge said. “My vision for this agency is that those expectations are met each and every day. This begins with the simplest of requests being fulfilled — that we engage in community policing that aligns with our core values: safety-centered, resolution-oriented, demonstrably inclusive and locally minded.”

While Village officials have praised Burge for her approach to policing, she was recently investigated, and later cleared, after officer David Meister filed a complaint against her. Meister’s complaint, filed days after Burge had been chosen as a finalist for police chief, accused Burge of obstructing justice and malfeasance when she instructed officers to have an individual transported to the hospital for medical treatment rather than serve outstanding warrants for the person’s arrest.

The complaint was forwarded to the Greene County Sheriff’s office. A report submitted by Greene County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Douglas Doherty read in part: “I find that Chief Burge acted in the best interest of her detainee seeking medical aid, as he was experiencing a medical event. I do not believe she acted in any way other than using discretion based on her circumstances and treating a fellow human being with care and comfort.”

According to Salmerón, the investigation, which was closed on Friday, March 18, delayed his naming of Burge as police chief.

“Burge’s actions are in line with my expectations of every officer in our organization, and that is that we will prioritize the safety and well-being of every individual above all else,” Salmerón said.
That sentiment was echoed as Mayor Pam Conine, Housh and Salmerón praised Burge at Monday’s Council meeting, where she was sworn in by the mayor.

“[Burge] joined our department three years ago and has been a whirlwind ever since,” Conine said. “I have faith in her to be a very, very effective leader.”

The post Extended Coverage | Paige Burge sworn in as YSPD chief appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

A 34-year-old Springfield man was pronounced dead on Saturday night, Oct. 8, after being found unresponsive on Corry Street following Street Fair.

According to police dispatch logs, a person who had accompanied the man to Yellow Springs approached police around 8 p.m., saying the man had entered one of the portable toilets on Corry Street an hour earlier and had not returned.

Police responded and found one of the portable toilets on Corry Street locked; when knocking on the door, there was no response. Medics from Miami Township Fire-Rescue were alerted to a possible drug overdose, and police opened the toilet door to find the man not breathing and unresponsive. Police and medics administered chest compressions and Narcan to the man; he was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m.

At press time, the Greene County Coroner had yet to determine the man’s official cause of death.

The post Springfield man found dead after Street Fair appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

Following a secret indictment and arrest, Donald Gronbeck pleaded “not guilty” to 50 counts of sex crimes at an arraignment hearing on Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Greene County Common Pleas Court in Xenia.

Gronbeck was represented by Jon Paul Rion, who entered the “not guilty” plea on Gronbeck’s behalf. Assistant Prosecutor Michele S. H. Henne told the News she expected the plea.

“In my experience, felony defendants usually plead ‘not guilty’ or stand mute,” Henne said.
The arraignment, set for 1 p.m., Oct. 27, was delayed for over an hour while Rion and the prosecution team deliberated over the date of the bond hearing, which was originally also set for the 27th. The new bond hearing date is Thursday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m.

Rion, who spoke with the press after the arraignment proceeding, said he requested a continuance of the bond hearing because he hadn’t received the prosecution’s discovery packet, which contains information and evidence the prosecution will use at trial.

Claiming to have done his own investigation in the nine months since Gronbeck’s Yellow Springs office was raided, Rion said that Gronbeck’s relationships with patients may be different from what the prosecutorial team alleged.

“Expect a full jury trial,” Rion said. “I’ll say more about this case but I want to receive all of the information they have before I elaborate on why I think he’s innocent.”

On Thursday, Oct. 27, former Yellow Springs Primary Care physician Donald Gronbeck, 42, of Bath Twp., pleaded “not guilty” to 50 counts of sex crimes at the Greene County Common Pleas Court in Xenia. He was represented by Jon Paul Rion of Rion, Rion and Rion, L.P.A, Inc. (Photo by Jessica Thomas)

Judge Michael Buckwalter, the judge presiding over Gronbeck’s case, said that both the prosecution and defense should “block off their calendars” in anticipation of a multi-day bond hearing.

“This could go beyond Thanksgiving,” Buckwalter said.

Both the prosecution and defense are anticipated to call witnesses for the bond hearing.

According to the prosecution team — Henne, Greene County Prosecutor David Hayes and Assistant Prosecutor Megan Hammond — the prosecution is seeking to have Gronbeck held without bond prior to trial because they believe he is a flight risk.

“There’s a statutory guideline as to what the state has to show in order to see if the defendant can be held without bail,” Henne said. “At that point the court will decide if the state has met its burden of proof or not.”

Rion told the press that he believes Gronbeck is not a flight risk and that his client has not attempted to leave the country despite anticipating criminal charges.

“That statement is ridiculous,” Rion said.

Rion went on to say that denying bond based on Gronbeck’s financial means would suggest that people who are “of means” should be given preferential treatment over poor people.

“To say someone is a flight risk because they aren’t poor turns the bond statute on its head,” Rion said. “To suggest that rich people shouldn’t get bond and poor people should, doesn’t make any sense.”

He also said that Gronbeck has continued to do medical and agricultural work in the community.

“He’s worked with fire departments and ambulance organizations that do emergency work,” Rion said. “He’s maintained all the connections that he had before. It really hasn’t changed his life much except for the changes that occurred when the medical board intervened.”

In phone interviews following the arraignment, the News confirmed that Gronbeck is not affiliated with emergency medical services for Miami Township, Sugarcreek Township, Fairborn or Beavercreek. Xenia Township did not return calls from the News by press time.

Gronbeck’s next scheduled hearing is on Thursday, Nov. 17. The News will update this story as more information becomes available.

The post Gronbeck pleads not guilty appeared first on The Yellow Springs News.

A recent spike in officer and dispatch turnover, higher overtime costs and mounting expenses to maintain and replace outdated equipment are among ongoing challenges identified by the Yellow Springs Police Department in proposing a 2023 budget totaling $1,731,805.34.

That amount is up by $131,857.91 from the 2022 budget. Last year’s police budget of $1,599,947.43 accounted for approximately 38% of the Village’s total General Fund.

The increase, Yellow Springs Police Chief Paige Burge told the News, primarily comes from the department’s growing capital expenses to replace, repair or update some of the technologies upon which staff and officers rely.

Principal among those technologies that need servicing are the department’s Tasers, a police cruiser and the hardware needed to integrate the forthcoming body-worn camera technology, Burge said.

The proposed budget also accounts for the creation of two new positions — a full-time dispatch supervisor and a deputy chief, who would serve second in command to Burge. Additionally, many staffers would receive wage increases that are more aligned with the wages of neighboring police departments, according to Burge.

All these expenditures and more were explored on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when Burge gave a virtual presentation before Council members Kevin Stokes and Gavin DeVore Leonard. Also present at the meeting were Village Manager Josué Salmerón and Village Clerk Judy Kintner. Burge’s presentation came amid the continuing conversations within the Village government about the coming year’s overall budget.

“I wanted to come at [my department’s] budget from a new perspective,” Burge said. “I’ve done what I believe can provide some insight and clarity into what the department’s needs are, and to propose cost savings and revenue opportunities.”

In her presentation, Burge drilled down on three areas of the department’s needs: capital, operational and personnel, with particular focus on the latter. Personnel costs, Burge said, account for 80–95% of the annual budget, and include not just salaries and wages, but also the department’s mounting turnover and overtime costs.

Since 2021, the department has spent over $136,000 on turnover costs as a result of losing two police officers, two dispatchers and a chief of police. Former Chief Brian Carlson left the department in November 2021.

Presently, the department consists of 19 full-time and part-time employees — seven full-time officers and one part-time officer, one chief, three full-time dispatchers, five part-time dispatchers, one property manager and one community outreach specialist.

Acknowledging the plethora of reasons a staffer may leave the department, Burge honed in on the wage disparity between the Yellow Springs Police Department and other departments in Greene County. She emphasized the need to retain and bolster staffing levels — by increasing wages — to prevent burnout and turnover among her staff.

“For the overall department, I want to commit to wage scale adjustments to be more competitive in today’s job market,” Burge said. “Longevity is a critical piece in achieving the policing style that’s expected of us. The longer we have [an officer] in the community, the more intimately they know that community.”

Referencing data she compiled by reaching out to every police department in Greene County, Burge pointed out that the Yellow Springs Police Departments’ wages trail behind the county average. Whereas an entry-level position with the YSPD starts at $24.18 per hour, the county average is $25.68. The Beavercreek Police Department, for instance, pays its entry-level positions $31.69.

She said the wage-scale adjustments she aims to implement would cost $5,520.36. An added “shift differential” pay increase of $1 more per hour to those officers and dispatchers who work less desirable shifts, such as weekends and nights, would add an additional $16,224 to the budget. That’s a total of $21,744.36 on department pay hikes.

Paying her staff more, Burge said, would allow the department to save money in the long-run.

“Small agencies such as our own have historically been viewed by other, larger agencies as starter agencies,” Burge said during her presentation. “In other words, you hire [officers], you work out all the kinks with them, invest money in training them, then after three to five years [larger police departments] will swoop in and offer them a few more dollars.”

Burge continued: “We cannot afford — with the community expectations of our officers — to lose the people we’ve invested the time and money into, especially if we’re losing them for such a small price to pay.”

Burge said that “price to pay” is shown in the department’s overtime costs. While the police department paid over $19,000 in overtime in 2020, overtime costs reached over $50,000 in 2022.

Burge told the News she’s been averaging 60 hours a week since she took over from Carlson — many of which are spent on “road coverage.”

“People who are not overworked, who feel supported and have the equipment and training to do their jobs do [those jobs] better,” Burge said at the meeting. “Over the last several months, [scheduling] was a huge challenge. It really contributed to officer burnout, and we’re still recovering from that, despite bringing on additional people to alleviate that.”

Burge concluded her presentation by reminding the two Council members of the department’s ongoing efforts to generate revenue for the Village. A recently implemented program in which a YS police department officer serves as a school resource officer at the county’s Educational Service Center is on track to generate over $18,800 annually.

She added that the department is also continually on the lookout for grant opportunities to help subsidize future costs.

Village Council will review the department’s proposed budget in a work session on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m. Following that work session, Council is scheduled to vote on the Village’s overall 2023 budget at the group’s regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 5.

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On Wednesday, Nov. 23, a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals revived a wrongful death claim against Walmart by the family of John Crawford III.

Crawford, a 22-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a police officer inside the Beavercreek store on Aug. 5, 2014.

On that day, police responded to a single 911 report that a Black man was carrying a gun and pointing it at children in Walmart. The gun in question was a pellet rifle for sale at the store, and video evidence revealed Crawford to be walking casually through the aisles with the gun at his side. The responding officers shot Crawford within seconds of encountering him in the store’s pet food aisle.

Although a judge dismissed an initial wrongful death claim in 2020, the appeals court concluded last week, by a vote of 2–1, that “a reasonable jury could find that Walmart failed to prevent Crawford from carrying a look-alike AR-15 openly around the store,” and therefore could consider the store responsible for Crawford’s death.

According to the appeals court: “Walmart had no policies in place to prevent customers from picking up unsecured and unboxed pellet guns … and carrying them around the store without employee supervision. Walmart did not train employees to respond to such situations if they caused any alarm.”

In its decision, the court also cited earlier testimony from Beavercreek police officer Sean Williams — the officer who fatally shot Crawford — who said that had he known Crawford was holding a pellet gun, not an assault rifle, he would not have fired the deadly shots. Additionally, according to Williams, he would not have shot Crawford had he been holding a boxed pellet gun or if a Walmart employee had been assisting him. 

A grand jury declined to indict Williams in 2017, and the Crawford family reached a settlement agreement of $1.7 million with the city of Beavercreek in 2020.

The Crawford family’s attorney, Michael Wright, of Dayton-based Wright & Schulte LLC, told the News this week that he’s pleased with the appeals court’s recent decision to let the family move forward with charges against Walmart. He said he hopes to have a trial date set for early to mid-2023.

“The family is happy that we get to proceed and hold Walmart accountable for what happened inside their store,” Wright said. “We wholeheartedly agree with [the court’s decision]. Walmart controlled all of the circumstances that led to John’s death.”

The Associated Press reported that Walmart continues to deny that its policies caused Crawford’s death.

“We respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling, and we will continue defending the company,” Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove said.

Villager and civil rights activist Bomani Moyenda said he believes the Crawford family is fully justified in pressing charges against the retailer.

Echoing what the appeals court ruled, Moyenda said, “I think Walmart should have boxed the rifle or secured it so no one could walk around with it.”

“I would hope for a sizable monetary [gain for the family] as a form of accountability,” Moyenda said. “But there can be no justice since John Crawford III is dead and can’t be brought back.”

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A 46-year-old Yellow Springs man was taken into custody Saturday evening, Dec. 24, after a four-hour standoff with police and SWAT at his home in the 100 block of Brookside Drive.

The man, who had not been formally charged as of press time, is being held in the Greene County Jail on four preliminary charges, including firing a weapon in or into a building and inducing panic.

The incident began around 2:30 p.m. when the Yellow Springs Police Department received a call from another resident of the home who, from a remote location, requested a welfare check on the man whom the caller believed posed a threat to himself.

When police arrived at the scene minutes later, officers ordered the man — believed to be armed — to leave the home. Upon his refusal, police attempted to call the man but were unsuccessful. Police then contacted several of the man’s friends and acquaintances and asked them to reach out to him and convince him to exit the dwelling.

Then, according to dispatch records, police heard a “muffled pop” emanate from the home at 2:54 p.m. At that point, Yellow Springs Police Chief Paige Burge requested assistance from the Greene County Regional SWAT Team, Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Xenia Police Department.

As time went on, law enforcement continued entreating the man to come out of the residence; he continued to refuse, and at one point, said, “I won’t come out with guns pointed at me,” according to dispatch records.

Around 3:45 p.m., police began evacuating nearby residences. Records indicate officers attempted to clear approximately 15 homes. While several residents exited the scene altogether, despite the subzero temperatures and snow accumulation, many residents opted to retreat to basements or confined spaces.

At 6:16 p.m., the man exited his home through the front door and surrendered to the police without incident. He was then transferred to Greene County Jail and, as of press time, remains in custody.

Evacuees were allowed to return to their homes around 6:30 p.m. once the scene had been cleared.

The News will not identify the man until he has been formally charged with a crime.

Updates will be provided as they are made available.

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At the regular Council meeting on Monday, March 6, a new Village staffer was sworn in: two-year old Shazam, the front-running candidate for the Village’s new therapy dog program.

Chief Paige Burge recently adopted the mixed breed pup from the SICSA Pet Adoption Center and has begun training him to help police officers who have experienced trauma on the job, assist with community outreach programs and to calm victims of crimes when providing the police with statements.

Although Shazam still has to go through a six-month trial phase, during which time he is to bond with staff, Burge believes he’ll fit right in.

“He needs us just as much as we need him,” she said.

Shown here, Council President Brian Housh fastens the ceremonial Village of Yellow Springs pin on Shazam’s collar.

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