C o n t i n u i n g To P r o u d l y S e r v e C a r r o l l C o u n t y S i n c e 1 8 3 1 $1.00
Thursday, November 21, 2019
freepressstandard.com
BCI&I investigates deputy-involved shooting By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams announced Monday afternoon that his office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place Saturday, Nov. 16, at approximately 11:42 a.m. The deceased has been determined to be Robert Sikon, age 41, of Canton. The shooting happened at the intersection of Waynesburg Road and Arrow Road in New Harrisburg during a routine traffic stop. The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was immediately notified and arrived on the scene in about an hour along with another investigative team. They are the lead investigators of this incident. Williams confirmed Tuesday morning that information from other media sources has been incorrect. He said that there were warrants out for the immediate arrest of Sikon. “These warrants are good anywhere. He had warrants out on him in Stark, Harrison and Carroll County. The charges involve drugs and theft and not just non-support,” said Williams. A close female friend of Sikon has spoken to several media outlets and
is providing conflicting and incorrect information, according to Williams. The woman in the video continually referred to the sheriff who pulled her and Sikon over as a traffic stop. Williams did arrive at the scene shortly after the shooting. A deputy initiated the traffic stop, not the sheriff. The videos and other interviews from family members have stated that the situation was a set up because BCI arrived within a few minutes of the scene. Williams said BCI&I arrived on the scene about one hour and 10 minutes after being called by dispatch to respond to a shooting. That is about how long it takes to get to that area of Carroll County from the Stark County offices. The Stark County Coroner’s office would not make a statement other than to say on Tuesday morning that the autopsy results will not be released for several weeks. Even the cause of death has not been determined or released at this time. The office representative said that full testing has been ordered, including toxicology, histology and more. BCI&I and Sheriff Dale Williams are not releasing any information until the
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A Canton man, identified as Robert Sikon, was shot Saturday morning, Nov. 16, as a Carroll County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant during a traffic stop. Deputies, Carrollton Police and investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation spent hours on the scene at the intersection of Waynesburg and Arrow roads in New Harrisburg.
Little’s bond reduced again in Minard’s case By GEORGETTE HUFF FPS Contributor
Following a pre-trial conference held on Monday, Nov. 18, with defense attorneys William Whitaker and Andrea Whitaker, Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Barnett and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Roth, Common Pleas Judge Michael V. Repella II agreed to a defense request to reduce Matthew Little’s bond from $1 million to $800,000. Little has pleaded not guilty to a 15-count indictment resulting from the April 2019 death of 14-year-old Jonathan Minard due to a drug overdose. His bond, originally set at $10 million, was later reduced to $1 million with a 10-percent cash require-
ment. In a phone conversation on Tuesday, Barnett explained the judge agreed to the bond reduction in order to forestall the possibility that Little would be found to be indigent; thereby requiring the county to pay for costs incurred in his defense. Repella’s ruling came with the stipulation that the $20,000 reduction in the cash portion of the bond posted by Little’s parents can be used only for retaining expert witnesses in his defense. Barnett noted the judge stated that “all terms and conditions” restricting Little’s movement and behavior while released on bond remain in effect. Repella granted defense attorneys’ request for additional time to study the material turned over to them by prosecutors, and set another pretrial hearing for 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 18.
FPS accepting candidate announcements for 2020 FPS Photo / Don Rutledge
Square decorated in preparation for annual Christmas Parade Carrollton’s Public Square Park has been elaborately decorated for the holidays – thanks to the Carrollton Business Women (CBW). Susan Williamson (left) and Bridget Hepner, CBW president and vice president, respectively, are shown placing lights around the gazebo which also includes two lighted Christmas trees. Several other trees are decorated throughout the square and lighted at night.
Members of the Carrollton Business Women spent a few hours over three evenings to decorate the square. The annual Christmas parade will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. and is sponsored by the Carrollton Rotary Club. “Under the Mistletoe” is the theme of Carrollton’s Christmas parade this year. The popular parade ushers in the holiday season and the pre-season arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Public meeting set on Regional Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan A public meeting will be held Friday, Nov. 22, on the Regional Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan developed by the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA) in cooperation with regional transit and human services agencies. The meeting will be held at the Area Agency on Aging Region 9 office, 710 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, from 10
more inside
a.m.- 12 p.m. Please use on-street or surface lot parking around the building and enter through the front door. This regional coordinated plan is the Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan for the 10-county OMEGA region, which includes Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes,
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Jefferson, Muskingum and Tuscarawas counties. The plan was developed between 2018-2019 and fulfills the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, signed into law as a reauthorization of surface transportation programs through Fiscal Year 2020.
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With the Dec. 18 filing deadline for the 2020 March primary election in Ohio fast approaching, The Free Press Standard is accepting candidate announcements. Candidates seeking any of the offices published in last week’s FPS Nov. 14 issue are welcome to submit a press release or information to The FPS. However, due to space limitations, we request you keep the article within 350-500 words, along with a picture. If you choose to submit information about yourself rather than a press re-
lease, a FPS staff writer will be glad to compose an article for you. Also, the FPS advertising department is available to assist you with your advertising in seeking your respective office. Information can be emailed to The FPS at fps44615@yahoo.com or Faxed to 330-627-3195. It may also be dropped off at our business office located at 43 E. Main St., Carrollton. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The office is closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Early deadlines are in effect The Free Press Standard will have early deadlines for Thanksgiving, Nov. 28. The deadline for display advertising is noon Friday, Nov. 22. For classified ads, the deadline is noon Friday, Nov. 22. Editorial deadlines are as follows: News, Sports and Accent: 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22. Obituaries: 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22. Letters to the Editor: Noon Friday, Nov. 22. The office will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28-29, for Thanksgiving Day. Reminder: The office is closed on Wednesdays.
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