WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire Friday evening at Car Care & Wash on Cincinnati-Columbus Road after a vehicle fire spread into the business.

According to the West Chester Fire Department, crews were dispatched at approximately 5:28 p.m. for a reported vehicle fire at the car wash, located at 9743 Cincinnati-Columbus Road (U.S. 42). When firefighters arrived, they found the flames had extended from a vehicle into the structure. Crews launched an aggressive attack and were able to knock down the bulk of the fire, though suppression and overhaul operations continued into the evening. Several vehicles were involved in the fire, and heavy smoke was visible throughout the area as firefighters worked to extinguish remaining hot spots. Southbound U.S. 42 was closed near the scene while emergency crews conducted firefighting operations. Additional traffic restrictions were implemented as needed during the response. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — Cleanup crews remained at the scene of a hazardous materials spill Friday after a truck released approximately 275 gallons of sulfuric acid near the intersection of West Chester and Barrett roads. West Chester Fire Department officials said a remediation contractor hired by the transportation company was on site conducting cleanup operations. Authorities said the spill was contained to the roadway and a nearby grassy area and had been successfully contained. Crews worked throughout the day to prevent the material from spreading and to safely remove contaminated material. Officials emphasized there was no danger to nearby homes, businesses, or the environment. The spill prompted road closures in the area while emergency responders and hazardous materials teams assessed the situation and began containment efforts. No injuries were reported. Motorists were urged to continue avoiding the area until cleanup operations were completed and roads could be safely reopened. The cause of the spill remains under investigation.

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Butler County property owners now have a new way to see exactly how their tax dollars are being distributed, thanks to an update to the county’s online property search system. The feature, announced by Butler County Auditor Nancy Nix, adds a detailed “Current Tax Distribution” tab to the county’s property search website at Butler County Auditor Property Search. The tool breaks down each individual levy within a taxing district, showing when it was passed, its gross and effective tax rates, and the total taxes tied to each levy. The feature is available for every property in Butler County. Nix called the update “a tremendous leap in public transparency,” noting that the information had previously been available but scattered across multiple reports that were difficult for residents to navigate. “While this information has been available, it was spread across multiple reports and was not easy to find. Now, it can be accessed with one click of a button,” Nix said in a statement. To use the feature, users can search their property through the auditor’s website, then select the “Current Tax Distribution” tab. From there, they can view a breakdown of levies tied to their property and taxing district. According to the auditor’s office, the tool may be especially helpful for residents trying to understand how many levies exist within a city, village, township, or school district, as well as how long those levies have been in place and what types of services they fund, including police, fire, roads, and schools. Officials caution that the totals shown in the new breakdown are calculated before any tax rollbacks or exemptions are applied, including owner-occupancy credits, non-business credits, or the Homestead exemption. As a result, the displayed totals may be higher than the final amount taxpayers see on their bill.

While the new tab provides expanded detail, residents will still find their traditional tax summary information and billing totals in other sections of the site. One piece of levy data—expiration dates—is not included in the new feature. That information remains available in the county’s DTE 27 Abstract of Tax Rates report, located under the “Reports & Publications” section of the auditor’s website. Nix said the goal of the update is to improve transparency and accessibility for taxpayers. “From the beginning, I have promised residents and taxpayers high-quality customer service along with honesty, transparency, and outreach,” she said. “This effort reflects those principles.”

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A man was fatally shot Thursday Night after West Chester Township police responded to an apartment complex following reports of a woman screaming for help inside a unit, according to a release from the West Chester Police Department. Officers were dispatched at approximately 9:50pm to an apartment on Zinnia Court at the Springs at West Chester after a neighboring resident called 911 reporting distress coming from inside the residence. Upon arrival, officers attempted to make contact with the occupants by knocking on the door and announcing their presence. Investigators said that based on information gathered at the scene and concerns for the welfare of potential occupants, officers forced entry into the apartment. During a protective sweep of the residence, officers encountered an adult male inside a bedroom. An officer-involved shooting occurred during that encounter. The male was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin. No officers were seriously injured in the incident. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been requested to conduct an independent review of the shooting, which officials said is standard procedure for officer-involved shooting cases. Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser also has a policy that refers all police involved shooting cases to a grand jury for review. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Officials said additional details will be released when they can be disclosed without compromising the investigation.

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A Butler County man who stabbed a sheriff’s deputy after setting a vehicle on fire in Madison Township was sentenced Wednesday to prison. Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Howard sentenced 42-year-old Phillip Lovely to an indefinite prison term of eight to 12 years after he previously pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated murder and arson charges stemming from the February incident. According to court records, Lovely admitted to attempting to kill Butler County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Farthing and to setting his girlfriend’s vehicle on fire. Deputy Farthing, who has since recovered from his injuries, was in the courtroom for Wednesday’s sentencing. He was joined by fellow deputies, detectives and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones in a show of support. Judge Howard imposed a mandatory prison term of eight years to a maximum of 12 years on the attempted aggravated murder conviction. Lovely also received a 12-month sentence on the arson charge, to be served concurrently. Court records show Lovely was given credit for 119 days already served in jail. He will also be subject to mandatory post-release control and must register as both a violent offender and an arson offender following his release from prison. 

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(Photo Courtesy: Butler County Jail)

A Cincinnati healthcare provider has been indicted on charges alleging he defrauded Ohio's Medicaid program out of more than $12 million. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that a Butler County grand jury returned a 31-count indictment against 63-year-old Robert Haley of Cincinnati. Haley faces charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated theft, Medicaid fraud, telecommunications fraud, tampering with evidence and 26 counts of forgery.

According to investigators, Haley owned and operated QIS LLC, a behavioral health clinic in Butler County. The Ohio Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit began investigating the business earlier this year after receiving a referral from the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Investigators allege that between January 2020 and May 2026, Haley was responsible for submitting more than 60,000 fraudulent Medicaid claims for services that were never provided, resulting in more than $12 million in improper payments. Authorities said the alleged scheme involved billing Medicaid for therapeutic behavioral services for children enrolled in after-school programs in Butler County. Family members told investigators they were unaware of the services and believed signatures on consent forms and service plans had been forged. Witnesses reportedly confirmed that no therapeutic behavioral services were provided. "This was complete fraud — top to bottom," Yost said. "I'm proud of our team of skilled investigators who put in the shoe-leather work needed to build and prosecute this criminal case."

Haley was arrested by Cincinnati police and transported to the Butler County Jail. He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

A 29-year-old woman was killed in a head-on crash Thursday morning in Hanover Township. Butler County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched around 6:52 a.m. to State Route 177 just south of Vizedom Road on reports of a serious injury crash. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2011 Kia Soul traveling northbound crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound 2011 Jeep Cherokee. Both vehicles sustained extensive front-end damage. The driver of the Kia, a 29-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not yet been released pending notification by the Butler County Coroner's Office. The driver of the Jeep, a 20-year-old man, transported himself to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. The Butler County Sheriff's Office Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team, known as S.T.A.R.T., responded to investigate the crash. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family during this tragic time," Sheriff Richard Jones said. "Traffic crashes like this are heartbreaking and serve as a reminder of how quickly lives can be changed forever."

 

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(Photo Courtesy: Butler County Sheriff's Office)

A man had to be Air Cared to University Hospital after a rollover crash into a fence at Greenwood Cemetery near the intersection of Fair and Fairgrove Avenue. The vehicle was suspended between a concrete wall and the fence, according to images from the scene. Hamilton Police and the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team were on the scene. North Fair Avenue was closed for an extended period of time for an "active and evolving" situation, according to a news release issued by the Hamilton Police Department. Anyone with information related to the incident was being urged to call HPD Public Affairs at (513) 868-5811 ext. 2007.

 

(Photo Courtesy: Steve Ricketts)

The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for Thursday for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio, along with Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Kentucky and Dearborn County, Indiana. The alert takes effect at midnight Thursday and remains in effect through 11:59 p.m. Officials said ozone levels are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category on the Air Quality Index. The agency is encouraging residents to take steps to help reduce ozone formation, including carpooling, walking, biking or using public transportation instead of driving. Drivers are also asked to avoid idling, refuel vehicles after 8 p.m., and avoid topping off gas tanks. Residents are also encouraged to avoid using gasoline-powered lawn equipment, oil-based paints and stains, fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills during the alert period. Officials also recommend conserving electricity by turning off lights and unplugging unused electronics and appliances.

More information is available at SouthwestOhioAir.org. 

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HAMILTON-Repairs are wrapping up at the Butler County Historic Courthouse after a fire caused water and smoke damage to the building back in February. County Administrator Judy Boyko has issued a statement that says Butler County Probate Court will return to the courthouse on Monday, June 22nd. Court employees will begin the process of moving from their temporary location at the Government Services Center during the week of June 15th. Area Two Court will remain at its new location at the government building. For updates on the transition, visit the probate court's website or call (513) 887-3294.

A months-long investigation by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of a Kentucky man accused of sharing nude photographs of his ex-husband through social media. Sheriff Richard K. Jones said detectives first received the complaint on November 10th, 2025. Investigators alleged that 24-year-old Aric Martin disseminated private sexual images of his ex-husband during an ongoing divorce proceeding. According to the sheriff’s office, the images were sent to members of the victim’s family in Lemon Township. Detectives conducted what the sheriff described as an extensive investigation involving social media subpoenas and search warrants before presenting the case to a Butler County grand jury. Martin was later indicted on one count of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, a fifth-degree felony. Authorities said Martin was arrested May 29th in Falmouth, Kentucky, by Butler County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division deputies and members of the U.S. Marshals Service Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team, also known as SOFAST. Martin was booked into the Grant County Detention Center and was awaiting extradition back to Butler County. “You can run, you can hide, and you can cross state lines, but sooner or later we're going to find you,” Sheriff Jones said in a statement. “This arrest proves that time and distance don't protect criminals from accountability.”

 

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(Image Courtesy: Butler County Sheriff's Office)

Two people were arrested following a shooting Monday morning in Liberty Township that left one man wounded. According to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 5:30 a.m. to Lakota Pointe Lane on reports of a fight involving shots fired. When deputies arrived, they found an adult Hispanic man suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was taken to West Chester Medical Center for treatment. Detectives said two suspects fled the area in separate vehicles following the shooting. Investigators later tracked both suspects to Miami Township in Montgomery County, where they were taken into custody. Authorities identified one suspect as 25-year-old Yeferson Perez, who was charged with felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, and tampering with evidence. A second suspect, 24-year-old Marbella Robiero, was charged with tampering with evidence. The sheriff’s office said both suspects are also being held on ICE detainers. “It’s bad enough that we have to deal with homegrown criminals. We shouldn’t have to worry about these Hispanic suspects, in this country illegally, committing violent crimes in our neighborhoods,” Sheriff Richard K. Jones said in a statement. “Butler County is not going to be a safe haven for anyone who thinks they can come here, break the law, shoot people, and get away with it.” The investigation remains ongoing.

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(Photo Courtesy: Butler County Sheriff's Office)

Butler County Sheriff's detectives are investigating an early morning shooting in Liberty Township that left one man hospitalized. Sheriff Richard K. Jones says deputies were dispatched around 5:33am Monday June 1st to the 6800 block of Lakota Pointe Lane on reports of an active dispute taking place outside a residence. While deputies were responding, dispatchers were told a man had been shot in the leg. When deputies arrived, they found a 27-year-old man outside the home suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the leg. Authorities say the injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening. The victim was transported to UC West Chester Hospital for treatment. Investigators say the suspect fled the area in a vehicle before deputies arrived on scene. Detectives processed evidence at the location Monday morning and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The victim’s name has not been released, and authorities say his current condition remains unknown. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division.

 

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