FOSTORIA | On 12/28/25 Fostoria, Findlay, and OSP were in a multi-county pursuit of suspects possibly under the influence of Meth. On 1/6/26 the Police CAD Report was released to The Fostoria Free Press.
By Josh Tolento, Editor, Founder, The Fostoria Free Press | NAHJ Member (National Association of Hispanic Journalists)
TIFFIN | According to public record, (4) illegals were booked into Seneca County Jail on December 4th 2025.
These 4 obviously did not take up Trump’s paid self-deportation offer..
My family heritage links back to Mexico as my grandparents immigrated LEGALLY to the United States.
There is nothing wrong with legal immigration, but open boarders is only asking for another 9/11 like event.
A New Year’s Day shooting on East Liberty Street in Ashland has left one man dead, another charged with aggravated murder, and a community searching for answers. Newly released information tied to the 911 call offers a clearer picture of what investigators say happened inside the home that afternoon.
The victim has been identified as John “Lefty” Grehn, 61, who was living at 102 East Liberty Street with longtime friend John Palermo.
The suspect, Palermo’s son, 24‑year‑old Robert Palermo of Ashland, is charged with aggravated murder, an unclassified felony alleging he purposely, with prior calculation and design, caused Grehn’s death on January 1, 2026.
Around 2:15 p.m., Ashland Police were dispatched after a 911 call from John Palermo, who reported that his son had shot Grehn inside the residence.
Responding officers found Grehn dead in the home that Thursday afternoon, and Ashland County Coroner Dr. Dale Thomae ordered the body sent to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, with results still pending.
Prosecutor Christopher Tunnell says the deadly encounter began as a verbal argument between Robert Palermo and Grehn about Grehn’s dog being allowed in the house.
The dispute reportedly paused when Grehn went downstairs to the living room, but authorities allege that during this lull, Palermo went upstairs, took a handgun from a locked box, loaded it, then returned to the living room and resumed the confrontation.
According to the complaint and prosecutor’s account, Grehn was seated on a couch when Palermo allegedly opened fire, shooting him multiple times and causing his death.
The charging documents assert that Palermo acted “purposely, and with prior planning,” language that supports the aggravated murder count and the claim of prior calculation and design.
Magistrate Emily Bates set bond at $2 million in Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, also approving a personal recognizance bond with strict conditions if Palermo were to be released, including GPS monitoring, a nightly curfew, no firearms, and no contact with his father.
Palermo, who has no known prior criminal history, remains in the Ashland County Jail; he faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted, though prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, and the case continues under investigation by Ashland Police with assistance from state and county agencie
ASHLAND COUNTY, OH Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell has announced that a criminal complaint has been filed charging 24‑year‑old Robert Palermo of Ashland with aggravated murder in connection with the New Year’s Day shooting death of 61‑year‑old John “Lefty” Grehn. The case is proceeding in Ashland County Common Pleas Court, with Judge David Stimpert presiding.
According to Tunnell, the complaint alleges that Palermo “purposely, and with prior planning” caused Grehn’s death, supporting a charge of aggravated murder under Ohio law. The offense, as charged, carries a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, though prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty at this time.
Authorities have indicated that the ongoing investigation has not uncovered any statutory aggravating circumstances required under Ohio’s death‑penalty provisions to pursue capital punishment. The matter will be presented to an Ashland County grand jury for formal indictment at a later date, following completion of additional investigative steps.
The charge stems from a shooting that occurred on the afternoon of January 1, 2026, at a residence in the 100 block of East Liberty Street in the City of Ashland. Ashland Police Division officers and Ashland Fire Division personnel were dispatched to the home at about 2:15 p.m. after a 911 call from a resident, identified as John Palermo, who was not injured.
First responders found Grehn deceased inside the residence, and investigators believe his death resulted from multiple gunshot wounds. Police took Robert Palermo into custody at the scene without incident, and he is currently being held at the Ashland County Jail pending further proceedings.
Ashland County Coroner Dr. Dale Thomae has ordered Grehn’s body transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for a full autopsy, a standard step in homicide investigations of this kind. Autopsy results remain pending and are expected to provide additional detail about the cause and manner of death.
The investigation is being led by the Ashland Police Division with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland County Coroner’s Office, and the Ashland Fire Department. Detectives executed a search warrant at the residence and collected evidence related to the shooting; officials also confirmed that a dog found in the home was taken into custody by the Ashland County Humane Society and was not harmed.
Tunnell described the case as a “profound and tragic loss of life” and offered condolences to Grehn’s family, friends, and all who knew him. He emphasized that, despite the gravity of the allegation, Ashland “is and always will be a safe place to live and to raise a family,” urging the community to focus on the swift, professional response of local safety forces rather than “the negative aspects of one human’s poor choices.”
During a bond hearing, prosecutors outlined preliminary details suggesting the shooting followed an argument in the home and requested a high bond; a $2 million bond was ultimately set, and counsel was appointed for Palermo. Future hearings, including grand jury consideration, will determine how the case proceeds.
Authorities stress that the filing of a criminal complaint is an allegation only and does not constitute proof of guilt. Like all criminal defendants, Robert Palermo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, and further information will be released as appropriate while protecting the integrity of the judicial process.
The Tallahassee man whose arrest in a Chuck E. Cheese costume went viral online maintains his innocence as he waits for his criminal case to move forward. He has entered a not‑guilty plea and is now watching the court process unfold.
Police arrested 41‑year‑old Jermell J. Jones in July at the Tallahassee Chuck E. Cheese, pulling him from the family restaurant while he was still dressed as the chain’s mouse mascot. Cellphone videos recorded by customers inside the Sharer Road location captured the moment, including a child crying out, “Oh, Chuck E.!”
According to court records, Jones faces charges of credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and criminal use of personal identification information. He is represented by the Public Defender’s Office and has formally denied the allegations in court.
The case has been moving through a series of case management conferences, routine hearings where a judge and attorneys check on the status of a case and discuss next steps. The next conference is set for Jan. 13 and is labeled “final” on the docket, though filings do not indicate whether a plea agreement is currently being negotiated.
Body‑camera footage and bystander videos of Jones’ arrest sparked significant public debate in Tallahassee about how and where officers choose to take people into custody. In the police‑released bodycam video, two officers approach Jones while he is in costume, handcuff him, and escort him out to a patrol car for questioning as nearby children react in confusion and alarm.
A department spokesperson has said there is no specific rule about making arrests in public settings like a children’s restaurant, explaining that officers rely on their judgment about safety and the risk of evidence being destroyed. She noted that once officers contacted Jones, he appeared to tense up and resist, prompting them to secure him in handcuffs out of concern for the safety of customers, the suspect, and the officers. She also remarked that it was “unfortunate” the suspect happened to be in costume at the time.
One officer wryly acknowledged the awkwardness of the situation, telling another on camera that parents were not pleased about “detaining Chuck E. Cheese” in front of their kids. As the footage spread and late‑night shows picked up the story, Chuck E. Cheese’s president and CEO, David McKillips, traveled to Tallahassee to meet with local police, including Chief Lawrence Revell, at the restaurant in an effort to project unity and goodwill between the company and law enforcement.
UPDATE | Lima Police Detectives have arrested the shooting suspect that sent a 19 year old to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Ohio authorities are investigating the shooting deaths of Columbus dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique, 39, after the couple was found inside their Weinland Park home during a welfare check, with no suspect identified and no signs of forced entry or recovered firearm reported so far. A growing memorial of roses and sunflowers has appeared outside their North 4th Street residence as neighbors and loved ones mourn and police continue the search for whoever is responsible.
Columbus police were called to the Tepes’ home on North 4th Street on a Tuesday morning after a welfare check was requested when Spencer failed to show up for work at Athens Dental Depot, where he was known for his punctuality. A family friend and officers entered the home and found Spencer and Monique dead from apparent gunshot wounds, with two young children located inside the house unharmed.
Newly released records indicate that Spencer suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Monique sustained at least one gunshot wound to the chest. Police reported no obvious signs of forced entry and confirmed that no firearm was recovered at the scene, leading investigators to treat the case as a double homicide and to state that they do not currently believe it to be a murder‑suicide.
The welfare check was initiated after Athens Dental Depot owner Dr. Mark Valrose contacted authorities, telling dispatch that Spencer had not arrived for his shift and that this absence was completely out of character. Several coworkers went to the home, and one friend called 911 around 9:57 a.m. after hearing children crying inside but getting no answer at the door, then placed another call minutes later after seeing Spencer’s body near a bed through a window or doorway.
During that call, the friend urgently told dispatchers, “There is a body inside,” explaining that they had gone to do a wellness check when Spencer stopped answering his phone. Police have not publicly released a precise time of the shootings, but the sequence of Spencer’s missed shift, coworkers’ concerns, and the 911 calls suggests the violence occurred before officers arrived that morning.
Outside the Tepes’ Weinland Park home, neighbors and friends have created a memorial made up of roses and sunflowers placed near the front steps, a visible sign of grief and solidarity on the block. Video and local coverage show flowers gathering along the sidewalk and fence line as more people stop by to pay their respects and reflect on the loss of the young couple.
Colleagues at Athens Dental Depot described Spencer as a dedicated dentist and friend, issuing a statement that they were “deeply saddened” by his sudden death and offering condolences to his family. Family members have shared wedding footage and memories of the couple, who married in 2021 and were approaching their fifth anniversary, underscoring the personal tragedy behind the public investigation.
As of the latest reports, Columbus police have not identified a suspect or made an arrest in the case and have not publicly named any persons of interest. Investigators have emphasized that the lack of forced entry and the absence of a firearm at the scene are key elements of the case, but they have released few additional details about potential motives or timelines.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645‑4730 or to provide anonymous tips through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461‑TIPS (8477), stressing that even small details could help move the investigation forward. Police and national outlets have also highlighted that the couple’s young children, found physically unharmed in the home, remain a central concern as the community seeks answers and accountability.
Separate from the Weinland Park homicide investigation, a 14‑year‑old boy was killed in a New Year’s Eve crash in Morrow County, drawing attention to teen driving safety and holiday travel risks in central Ohio. In another case, Columbus authorities arrested a woman in connection with the death of her 3‑year‑old daughter, which police have classified as a homicide rooted in domestic violence, adding to concerns about family‑violence‑related deaths in the region.
Ohio has also implemented a new law standardizing kindergarten enrollment, requiring children to be 5 years old by the first day of school, a shift that state officials estimate will result in about 5,000 fewer kindergarten students statewide next year. Educators and policymakers say the change is meant to create consistency across districts, but they also warn it could affect school funding levels and increase demand for preschool and childcare as more 4‑year‑olds are held out of kindergarten.
TIFFIN | At approximately 7:49 PM Thursday evening Tiffin Police contacted Fostoria Police Department requesting help and locating a vehicle involved in brandishing a firearm. The report given to Fostoria Police was a man pulled out a gun on a woman and Tiffin, and then fled in a red Dodge Advenger with tinted windows and no license plate.
The man is believed to be heading northbound to Toledo on back roads.
Fostoria police are on the lookout and multiple locations.
UPDATE: Tiffin Police have closed out the call. Unable to locate.
HANCOCK COUNTY | Moises Garza was booked at 11:02PM 12/31/25 with a Domestic Violence charge relating to the incident below.
