Bucyrus Telegraph Forum...
State
AG defends fugitive program
Henry S. Conte
September 27, 2011
Attorney General Mike DeWine is trying
to give out second chances. All he asks is that people take him up on
his
offer.
Several hundred people with warrants
in Richland County for non-violent felonies and misdemeanors are
expected to
turn themselves in peacefully at a church in Mansfield early next month.
The Ohio Attorney General’s office is
launching its first Fugitive Safe Surrender program from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Oct.
5 to 8 at Oasis of Love Church, 190 Chester Ave., Mansfield.
DeWine said accused people wanted on
misdemeanor and non-violent felony warrants in Richland County can hope
for
leniency if they voluntarily report. The procedure should help law
enforcement,
too.
“We’re talking about misdemeanors,
low-level felonies, non-violent offenders,” DeWine said. “But there are
tens of
thousands of these outstanding warrants, fugitives from justice, all
over the
state of Ohio. By having so many of these people with outstanding
warrants, it
creates a very dangerous situation for the police.”
DeWine said police officers, sheriff’s
deputies and troopers fear people who are wanted on warrants might not
act
rationally if they’re pulled over.
Bucyrus police Chief Ken Teets said a
similar program was run in Columbus recently.
“I know that they were able to resolve
a number of cases,” Teets said. “In the past we have run income tax
amnesty.
Right now we have a modified version of it running all the time. There
are
times when we have a warrant and we just give them a date to appear in
court.”
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