Police/Fire/EMS

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The Bluffton Police Department provided the following report to the Village council on January 13. It includes an activity summary for December 2024 as follows:

Police calls for service 535
Police Chief calls for service 67
Traffic stops 39
   
Criminal complaints 12 Total
Animal Complaint 1
Mental Health 1
Miscellaneous 5
Persistent Disorderly Conduct 1                           
No Operators License 1
Theft 1
Underage Consumption - Juvenile Complaint 1
Warrant Service 1

The attached documents show Incident Breakdown for December 2024 and Ticket Statistics for 2024. A total of 8 parking tickets were issued in 2024 and a total of 28 warnings were issued.

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Provided by Chief Jon Kinn, Bluffton Fire Department

The Bluffton Fire Department received 159 calls for service in 2024. This is higher than usual and shows an increase of 48 calls compared to 2023.  In 2022, the calls received were 117 and 93 calls for service in 2021. (See chart below.)

The increased call volume was a result of an increase in false alarm calls at various facilities and an increase in motor vehicle crashes.  There was also an increase in grass/field fires and also heavy equipment (i.e. combine and tractor) fires.

The Bluffton Fire Department covers an area of forty square miles.  The department is responsible for all of the Village of Bluffton and also portions of Richland and Orange Townships.

The entirely volunteer department also recorded a total of 149 of in-house training hours by the members of the department.  Additionally, many hours were spent maintaining vehicles, special events and regular business meetings monthly.  

Thank you to the residents of the Village of Bluffton and the surrounding areas for their continued support of the fire department and all of Bluffton’s Safety Services.

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The following docket was provided by the Bluffton Police Department, 154 N Main St, Bluffton, OH 45817; phone 419-358-2961 (non-emergency).

December 2

Officers responded to the 100 block of East Jefferson Street for a civil issue.

Officers responded to a residence in the 100 block of Garmatter Street in regards to an underage consumption by a juvenile complaint.

December 4

Officers responded to an apartment complex on County Line Road in reference to a mentally ill individual. The individual was taken to St. Rita’s Medical Center to be evaluated.

Officers responded to the university in response to a tree that had fallen on a student’s parked vehicle.

December 6

Officers responded to the hospital ER in reference to an individual who was injured by a dog that was running at large. Contact was made with the Allen County Dog Warden’s office to investigate the incident further.

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Media Release issued December 17

Hardin County Sheriff Keith Everhart announced today that Hardin County deputies assisted by agents of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation & Identification (BCI&I) executed a search warrant that resulted in the discovery of a body believed to be that of Michael Bolen. The warrant had been issued because of information received by deputies late Monday December 16.

On March 31, family members of Mr. Bolen reported that he had been missing from his McGuffey, Ohio residence since March 29. An exhaustive search for Bolen was conducted by Hardin County deputies, BCI&I agents, Ohio Department of Natural Resources cadaver K9s, family members and others, with his whereabouts continuing to be unknown.

The investigation into Bolen’s disappearance led to his son, Dustin Ray Bolen, being indicted for his father’s murder, and subsequently being arrested on November 7, 2024 and lodged in the Multi County Correctional Center, where he is awaiting trial.

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From the Hancock County Sheriff's Office: On behalf of Sheriff Michael E. Heldman, we warmly invite you to celebrate his retirement after an extraordinary 52 years of service to Hancock County, including 28 years as Sheriff.

Sheriff Heldman holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Sheriff in Hancock County's history.

The celebration will be held on January 3 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at Old Mill Stream Centre, 1017 E. Sandusky, Findlay. The event is free and open to the public.

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The Bluffton Police Department responded to our inquiry with the following information regarding a recent dog attack in Bluffton.

On December 6, 2024 at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers from the Bluffton Police Department responded to a N. Lawn Ave residence where a female reported being chased back into her house by a large dog.  After taking this complaint, officers were able to determine that the dog was back on its property and officers secured the loose gate the dog escaped from. The Allen County Dog Warden was contacted about this complaint and was investigating the matter.  

At approximately 4:15 p.m. on the same date, officers were made aware of another incident involving the same dog.  A female reported she was walking in the area of Spring St. and Washington St. and was knocked down from behind by a large dog and had to seek medical attention for injuries sustained in the incident. Officers investigated the matter and were able to determine that the dog in question was the same dog as the earlier complaint, and both incidents happened at the same time. This complaint was also forwarded to the Allen County Dog Warden’s Office for further investigation.

Warden Julie Shellhammer responded to the Icon's inquiry that “Deputy Marando did investigate the incident in Bluffton. The dog you are asking about is not and has not been in custody of our office.  The owner may choose to surrender the dog but they are not required to.  READ MORE

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