(MANSFIELD, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine was onsite today as Fugitive Safe Surrender Richland County began in Mansfield. The event is taking place at the Oasis of Love Church, 190 Chester Ave., from October 5th through 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
“There are currently over 5,500 outstanding warrants on record in Richland County, situations that could lead to unnecessary confrontations between offenders and law enforcement,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Fugitive Safe Surrender is not amnesty, but a chance for persons with outstanding warrants to handle them in a safe, faith-based setting.”
Fugitive Safe Surrender offers individuals with non-violent felony and misdemeanor warrants the ability to turn themselves in to law enforcement and have their case adjudicated, typically at a community church. The Fugitive Safe Surrender program has been a success in Cleveland since it was started by United States Marshal Pete Elliott in 2005 after a Cleveland police officer was killed. More than 34,000 people have surrendered nationally, including more than 10,000 in northern Ohio.
Fugitive Safe Surrender Richland County is the first expansion of the program to hold an event under Attorney General DeWine. A long-time supporter of the program since its inception, Attorney General DeWine announced in March that Fugitive Safe Surrender would continue under the Ohio Attorney General’s Office after federal support was cut for the program. The Fugitive Safe Surrender program will also hold an event in the Youngstown area in the spring of 2012.
“Thanks to the partnerships with local law enforcement, judges, and political and religious leaders, Fugitive Safe Surrender Richland County has the potential to have a tremendous positive impact on the community and make Richland County a safer place for families and law enforcement,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Fugitive Safe Surrender works because of the partnerships between the community and law enforcement, and that partnership is a model we hope to see expand to other communities in Ohio in the near future.”
Local leaders assisting in Fugitive Safe Surrender Richland County include: Richland County Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon, Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James DeWeese, Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James D. Henson, Richland County Domestic Court Judge Heather Cockley, Richland County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Garry D. Dalbey, Richland County Prosecutor James J. Mayer, Jr., Richland County Clerk of Courts Linda Frary, Richland County Bar Association President Melissa Tommelleo, Richland County Community Policing, Probation and Parole Partnership Chief Dave Leitenberger, City of Mansfield Mayor Donald R. Culliver, Mansfield Chief of Police Dino Sgambellone, Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Frank Ardis, Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Jerry Ault, Mansfield Municipal Court Magistrate Phillip Naumoff, Mansfield Law Director David L. Remy, Mansfield Municipal Clerk of Courts Dan Smith, City of Shelby Mayor Marilyn S. John, Shelby Municipal Court Judge Jon Schaefer, Shelby Law Director R. Lee Shepherd, Shelby Clerk of Courts Alyce Cline, Oasis of Love Church Senior Pastor Dr. Walter Jordan II and Mansfield NAACP President Marcia Webb.
Persons who wish to find out more information about Fugitive Safe Surrender Richland County can call 877-647-8773.
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Video
Ohio Fugitive Safe Surrender Public Service Announcement
Focus on North Central Ohio from WMFD-TV
Media Contacts
Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840