08-30-2016, 12:57 AM
COURTS Retired police officer goes on trial in shooting
More than two years after shots were fired at a Toledo woman by the father of a murder victim, the police lieutenant charged with aiding in the scheme went on trial Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
Frank Ramirez, 60, of the 5900 block of Tetherwood Drive, is charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and discharge of a firearm over a highway for allegedly helping John Clarke and Maytee Vazquez-Clarke in their foiled attempt to kill Tiffany Williams.
Brian Deckert, a senior assistant attorney general and special prosecutor assigned to the case, told the jury in his opening statement that Mr. Ramirez helped the Clarkes “hunt” Ms. Williams and others the Clarkes believed were responsible for the murder of their son, Johnny Clarke, in 2011. The younger Clarke and his girlfriend, Lisa Straub, were bound and asphyxiated in Ms. Straub’s parents’ Springfield Township home in what was believed to be a home invasion.
On Dec. 26, 2014, Mr. Deckert said, Mr. Ramirez arranged to have Ms. Williams go to a location on Colburn Avenue in South Toledo and told the Clarkes when and where they could find her. The Clarkes went to the location and John Clarke fired two shots, he said, though neither struck her.
“Frank Ramirez was supposed to enforce the laws of the city of Toledo,” Mr. Deckert said. “He not only broke the law. He actively hampered an investigation, destroyed evidence, and concealed it. These are not the actions of an innocent man.”
John Clarke, 46 of the 400 block of Danberry Street, entered an Alford plea — not admitting guilt — and was found guilty May 23 by Judge Gene Zmuda of felonious assault and a one-year firearm specification. His wife, 45, entered an Alford plea to retaliation and was found guilty.
The Clarkes have not yet been sentenced but agreed to testify at Mr. Ramirez’s trial as part of their plea agreements.
Defense attorney Jon Richardson told jurors that Mr. Ramirez was one of many people the Clarkes recruited to help them in a crusade they dubbed “Justice for Johnny.” While Samuel Williams was convicted of their son’s murder in 2012, a co-defendant was acquitted and the Clarkes were convinced others were involved, Mr. Richardson said.
“Here’s the guy whose friendship they drained for their own purposes, to help them accomplish Justice for Johnny, but now that they’re busted,” Mr. Richardson said, adding both took plea bargains in exchange for their testimony against Mr. Ramirez.
“The man who helped with Justice for Johnny is now the only man on trial,” he said.
Mr. Richardson said the Clarkes were willing to pay any price to continue their crusade to find their son’s killer, and he asserted they did not want to kill Tiffany Williams, but wanted her alive so she could come to court and reveal what she knows about the night of the murder.
click to continue
http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2016/0...oting.html
More than two years after shots were fired at a Toledo woman by the father of a murder victim, the police lieutenant charged with aiding in the scheme went on trial Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
Frank Ramirez, 60, of the 5900 block of Tetherwood Drive, is charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and discharge of a firearm over a highway for allegedly helping John Clarke and Maytee Vazquez-Clarke in their foiled attempt to kill Tiffany Williams.
Brian Deckert, a senior assistant attorney general and special prosecutor assigned to the case, told the jury in his opening statement that Mr. Ramirez helped the Clarkes “hunt” Ms. Williams and others the Clarkes believed were responsible for the murder of their son, Johnny Clarke, in 2011. The younger Clarke and his girlfriend, Lisa Straub, were bound and asphyxiated in Ms. Straub’s parents’ Springfield Township home in what was believed to be a home invasion.
On Dec. 26, 2014, Mr. Deckert said, Mr. Ramirez arranged to have Ms. Williams go to a location on Colburn Avenue in South Toledo and told the Clarkes when and where they could find her. The Clarkes went to the location and John Clarke fired two shots, he said, though neither struck her.
“Frank Ramirez was supposed to enforce the laws of the city of Toledo,” Mr. Deckert said. “He not only broke the law. He actively hampered an investigation, destroyed evidence, and concealed it. These are not the actions of an innocent man.”
John Clarke, 46 of the 400 block of Danberry Street, entered an Alford plea — not admitting guilt — and was found guilty May 23 by Judge Gene Zmuda of felonious assault and a one-year firearm specification. His wife, 45, entered an Alford plea to retaliation and was found guilty.
The Clarkes have not yet been sentenced but agreed to testify at Mr. Ramirez’s trial as part of their plea agreements.
Defense attorney Jon Richardson told jurors that Mr. Ramirez was one of many people the Clarkes recruited to help them in a crusade they dubbed “Justice for Johnny.” While Samuel Williams was convicted of their son’s murder in 2012, a co-defendant was acquitted and the Clarkes were convinced others were involved, Mr. Richardson said.
“Here’s the guy whose friendship they drained for their own purposes, to help them accomplish Justice for Johnny, but now that they’re busted,” Mr. Richardson said, adding both took plea bargains in exchange for their testimony against Mr. Ramirez.
“The man who helped with Justice for Johnny is now the only man on trial,” he said.
Mr. Richardson said the Clarkes were willing to pay any price to continue their crusade to find their son’s killer, and he asserted they did not want to kill Tiffany Williams, but wanted her alive so she could come to court and reveal what she knows about the night of the murder.
click to continue
http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2016/0...oting.html