Latest news with #ConniePillich
New York Times
18-06-2025
- New York Times
Ohio Officer Won't Be Charged in Fatal Shooting of Teenager
A police officer in Cincinnati will not be charged in the fatal shooting of a teenager whose father is accused of intentionally striking and killing a sheriff's deputy with his car the day after his son's death, prosecutors said. Connie Pillich, the prosecuting attorney for Hamilton County, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the officer, whom she did not identify, was 'legally justified in his use of force' and declined to send the case to a grand jury. The teenager, Ryan Hinton, was fatally shot by a police officer who was responding to a report of a stolen vehicle on May 1. Mr. Hinton had a fully loaded gun that he pointed at officers when they confronted him, Ms. Pillich said. 'I'm confident that my decision was based on every fact available and was made with due diligence and the utmost care,' the prosecutor said. Fanon A. Rucker, a lawyer for Mr. Hinton's family, said in remarks after the news conference that the family planned to file a lawsuit. The police were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle when they found Mr. Hinton and three other people in the stolen car. When officers approached the vehicle, the four men ran. One of the officers saw Mr. Hinton fall as he ran away and heard the sound of metal hitting the pavement, Ms. Pillich said. In audio from police dash camera footage played at the news conference, another responding officer can be heard yelling, 'He's got a gun,' before shots are fired. Ms. Pillich said the officer who had fired the fatal shots told investigators that he had heard the warning about the gun and saw Mr. Hinton point a gun at him, after which the officer fired his weapon. The father, Rodney L. Hinton, 38, is accused of intentionally driving his car into a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy who was directing traffic outside a University of Cincinnati graduation event on May 2, a day after the son's death, according to the prosecutor's office, which filed charges last month. A lawyer who had been representing the family said that they had gone to the Cincinnati police chief's office earlier that day to see the body-camera footage of the confrontation and that Mr. Hinton had become visibly upset and left before the video was over. The elder Mr. Hinton pleaded not guilty last month to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder and two counts of felonious assault. He faces the death penalty if he is convicted of aggravated murder. Clyde Bennett, Mr. Hinton's lawyer, said that he was being held without bond at the Clermont County jail.
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Associated Press
Cincinnati officer won't be charged in shooting death of teen who was holding a gun during a chase
CINCINNATI (AP) — A Cincinnati police officer will not be charged in the shooting death of an 18-year-old who was holding a gun and running from police who were responding to a call about a stolen car, a prosecutor said Tuesday. A day after the shooting, the teen's father struck and killed a county deputy with his car in what authorities have said was an intentional act. The father, who had watched body camera footage of the shooting just hours before the crash, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in the deputy's death. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said a review of the May 1 shooting death of Ryan Hinton found that the officer was 'legally justified in his use of force.' Hinton had a fully loaded gun and pointed it at officers when they confronted him, Pillich said. The officer who fired told investigators that Hinton pointed the gun at him during a foot chase, Pillich said. Police released photos of a semiautomatic handgun that they said Hinton was carrying and another gun that was found in the car. One officer could be heard in body camera video released by police saying 'he's got a gun' before several shots were fired as Hinton was running behind an apartment complex. While blurred images released after the shooting did not clearly show Hinton pointing a gun, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the officer told investigators that Hinton had the gun in front of him and pointed at the officer. The officer said he feared for his life, the chief said. Police and the prosecutor did not release the name of the officer. An attorney representing Hinton's family said they disagreed with the prosecutor's findings and plan to file a lawsuit. Meanwhile, authorities have accused Hinton's father, Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, of running down a deputy who was not involved in his son's shooting. Deputy Larry Ray Henderson Jr. was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati when he was hit by a car that drove into an intersection, police said. Henderson was struck a few hours after Rodney Hinton Jr. and other family members watched police body camera footage showing the officer fatally shoot his son. Rodney Hinton Jr.'s attorney has said he is not guilty by reason of insanity.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Uneducated jackal': Prosecutor Connie Pillich Facebook post about Trump gets backlash
In a now-deleted post on her personal Facebook page, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said she will attend an upcoming anti-Trump protest and referred to the president as 'an incompetent, childish, selfish, uneducated jackal.' Pillich, the first Democrat to be elected prosecutor in the county in nearly a century, made the post sometime on Tuesday, June 10. It was still visible the evening of June 11. She had deleted it by early the following day. Pillich began by responding to a Facebook prompt that users see. 'What's on my mind? My job is to prosecute people who commit crimes,' Pillich wrote. 'But all this is against a backdrop of such unconstitutional lawlessness at the federal level by an incompetent, childish, selfish, uneducated jackal who threatens our very democracy every day. 'Even worse, he is backed up by vile humans whose acts and advice indicate they want to destroy our democracy.' The post shared an event listing for one of the 'No Kings' protests scheduled for June 14, which are taking place nationwide. "Please join me Saturday," she wrote above a link to the University of Cincinnati protest. A spokeswoman for Pillich did not respond to a request for comment. Many, particularly supporters of President Donald Trump, responded with outrage or worse, devolving into name-calling. The Hamilton County Republican Party's Facebook page said Pillich's statement labeling Trump supporters as 'vile' disparaged the millions of fellow Ohioans who voted for him. 'This kind of rhetoric is not only divisive – it is dangerous,' the Republican party's post said. 'It undermines the foundation of democracy: respect for the will of the people, even when we disagree. And when it comes from someone in a position of public trust – especially a prosecutor sworn to uphold the law impartially – it raises serious ethical concerns.' Other users accused Pillich of not being impartial and even being driven by hatred. 'Are you publicly admitting that you'll shirk your responsibilities as a prosecutor to push a political agenda?' conservative radio personality and podcaster Jack Windsor wrote on Facebook. "To say your constituents should be disappointed is an understatement − they deserve better." University of Cincinnati professor David Niven, who studies American politics and follows local politics, said he believes Pillich was "sinking to the level of her political opponents." "Prosecutors are supposed to be above politics" and have a duty "to stand up for the rule of law," Niven said. "Pillich could stand up for every vulnerable resident of Hamilton County in carrying out her duties. But naming calling does not advance that agenda. While it is no doubt satisfying to speak frankly, Pillich would be better off acting on these observations than making them." (This story was updated to add a video and a photo gallery.) This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Prosecutor Connie Pillich Facebook post slamming Trump gets backlash
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hamilton County prosecutor to announce whether charges will be filed on Feb. 7 neo-Nazis
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich is releasing her office's review of whether there were any prosecutable offenses during a neo-Nazi demonstration on the border of Evendale and Lincoln Heights Feb. 7. Pillich will release the report today, June 12, at 3 p.m. The report comes just weeks after Evendale, whose officers largely responded to the demonstration on an Interstate 75 overpass, released a report from an independent firm that reviewed its department's actions. Evendale's report largely backed the police's response to the demonstration, much to the ire of the neighboring historically-Black community of Lincoln Heights. It also generally supported what Evendale police and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey have said since the demonstration: The demonstrators were exercising their free speech and acting within the bounds of the law. Still, the firm recommended Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich review the actions of the demonstrators for possible charges. Pillich said in February that an internal task force of attorneys was reviewing the incident. Now, Pillich is releasing the report from that internal task force at 3 p.m. The Enquirer will update this story with more information after its release. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Prosecutor Connie Pillich releasing Lincoln Heights neo-Nazi report
CBS News
04-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Ohio man tried to kill dog after $500 euthanasia quote, authorities say
A man in Ohio tried to kill his dog after receiving a quote for euthanasia for hundreds of dollars, authorities said. In a news release on Monday, the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said Richard Orth is facing an animal cruelty charge in connection with the attack last month. Officials said Orth brought his elderly dog, Tinkerbell, to the Animal Hospital of Delhi Hills on Anderson Ferry Road on May 23. There, a veterinarian said the dog needed to be euthanized and quoted Orth a price of $500, the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said. The press release said when staff left the room, Orth was heard on audio from the room saying, "Go be with God. I won't let you suffer. $500 is highway robbery." The 59-year-old Ohio man allegedly strangled the dog, causing injuries to its neck and throat. Tinkerbell was then euthanized, authorities said. "There's no excuse for what happened here," Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said in the news release. "Our office is committed to holding those accountable who harm animals." The East Price Hill man was indicted on Monday on a charge of cruel treatment of companion animals. He faces up to one year in prison, officials said. Delhi Hills is in Hamilton County. It is a suburb of Cincinnati.
