Barberton may join in at the combined dispatch center that now serves Norton and Copley Township.

The Beacon Journal reports that the 300-thousand dollar cost would be split three ways between Norton, Copley and Barberton.

Officials from Copley and Norton are already applying for a low-interest loan to pay for their share of the new dispatch consolidation, and Barberton is expected to follow suit this week.

Officials in Copley say as many as six communities were slated to consider dispatch consolidation, but only Barberton is going through with the process so far. 

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On the Web: Akron Beacon Journal, www.ohio.com

A man turned himself in to Canal Fulton Police after admitting being under the influence of bath salts and other drugs.

Interim Police Chief Doug Swartz says when the 21-year old man came to in the station, he had violent intentions on his mind.

"The subject came to our station and told our dispatchers he needed handcuffed because had thoughts of suicide, saying he wanted to take a gun and begin shooting anyone that came across his path including police."

The man claimed to be a drug dealer, dealing numerous types of drugs to children. He is currently at an area medical facility.

Swartz says while under the influence of bath salts users can become extremely aggressive, delusional and paranoid.

He (Swartz) says people need to be more aware of the dangerous side effects of bath salts before thinking about trying them.

" I don't think people are really aware of the dangers of it, and the first time they are trying it could be the most dangerous time."

In addition to being high on bath salts, the man admitted to being on K-2, cocaine and marijuana.

With very few drug abusers turning themselves in, Swartz says to call the police  if you see someone under the influence of bath salts or any other drug.

"For the safety of yourself, the community, and the individual themselves, call the police right away and we can either get them the help they need or we can place them under arrest and get them off the streets."

No charges have been filed and police are not releasing the man's name at this time.

Akron police arrest a third suspect in a Princeton Street murder.

Rahsheem Carr, 20, of Akron, was booked into the Summit County Jail Tuesday on aggravated murder and aggravated robbery charges.

Police believe Carr was involved in the death of Phillip Anderson, who was found fatally shot in early January on Princeton Street.

Two other suspects already facing charges, Robert Davis Jr., 20, and Demarcus Williams,20, are facing similar charges.

Previous Coverage:

Second Akron Murder Suspect Surrenders

Akron Police Arrest Princeton Street Murder Suspect

Police: Man Shot In Chest, Dies At Hospital

A Canton woman is slapped with felony charges for smacking a police officer with her purse.

The Canton Repository reports the officer was trying to stop Lataija M. Parker, 18, of Canton, from leaving the Macy's at Westfield Belden Village Mall with stolen merchandise Wednesday afternoon.

She allegedly struck the mall security officer in the face. Police then tracked her down in the food court and she was arrested on felony robbery and assault charges.

Parker was booked into the Stark County Jail.

On the web: www.CantonRep.com

Statement by Mayor Don Plusquellic - December 16, 2011

Since Sunday, December 11, 2011, there have been nine people shot in the City of Akron, resulting in six deaths.  The shootings here are not random acts of violence.  The victims appear to have been targeted for reasons still under investigation.  

I want to assure the citizens of Akron that the Akron Police Department is working tirelessly to sort through these events, capture the suspects, and solve these serious crimes.  The U.S. Marshal’s Service led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is working to apprehend various suspects in this investigation.  The Akron Police Department, the FBI and the Summit County Sheriff’s Department are three of numerous agencies involved in this endeavor.  All resources are being exhausted so that these homicides can be solved as quickly as possible.

I want to reassure the law-abiding citizens of Akron that they are safe, and I think it is important to repeat that these recent shootings are not random shootings of Akron citizens, but rather the victims in these cases appear to have been specifically targeted.  

I encourage Akron citizens with any information about the recent shootings to call the Akron Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490.

A pedestrian is killed after being hit by a car in Cuyahoga Falls.

Cuyahoga Falls Police reports 32-year old Timothy Dalchuk was hit near the intersection of Theiss and Akron Peninsula roads at 2 a.m. this morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:37 a.m.

The driver, Garrett Janos, 21, told authorities he was traveling east on Theiss Road and ran over Dalchuk, who was lying on the ground.

Janos was given a breathalyzer test and his blood alcohol content was .062, below the legal state limit.

The incident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed. An autopsy is scheduled for Dalchuk later today.

Theiss Road, between Akron Peninsula and Hardy roads, was closed for a portion of the morning and re-opened shortly after 6 a.m.

Follow AkronNewsNow.com as more details become available.

Police are investigating two robberies that took place over the weekend.

The first robbery happened around 10:30 Friday night when a driver for Gionino's Pizza was robbed while delivering food.

The victim reported he walked up to the front porch of a house on West Emerling Avenue and no one answered the door. The driver then walked around the house when the suspect approached him from behind with a black handgun and demanded money.

The victim punched the suspect as he tried to reach into his pockets. After a brief struggle, the delivery driver chased and tackled the suspect. He then dropped his gun and fled the scene.

The gun turned out to be a BB gun.

The suspect is described as a black male 20 – 24 years old, 5’07” – 5’10”, 160 – 170 lbs. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with a gray hood, black jeans and black scarf.

The second robbery took place around 6:30 Saturday morning.

A 19-year-old victim reported that her purse was stolen after being knocked down while walking to her car on Wheeler Street.

The victim reported seeing a handgun concealed under his coat. The woman suffered a minor abrasion on her abdomen but refused medical attention.

The suspect is described as a black male 22 – 25 years old, 5’07” – 5’09”, 180 – 190 lbs. He was wearing a black hat with the bill turned backwards, a black leather coat, long black t-shirt and dark jeans.

Anyone with information on wither robbery is asked to contact the Akron Police Department.

Akron police detectives are looking into an early Friday morning shooting on South High Street in downtown Akron.

Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards says the shooting happened at about 2:30 AM, and stemmed from a night club fight down the street.

"The shooting followed a large fight that started inside of the Rose Night Club on South Main Street," Lt. Edwards says, "and then continued outside the night club in the parking lot."

Two victims - 22 year-old Marcus Cuff of Cleveland and 19 year-old Lavonte Tatum of South Euclid - were shot and taken to different hospitals.

Lt. Edwards says a third man, 21 year-old Christen Flinn, was knocked unconscious during the fight, and was taken to a third hospital.

Police say all the injuries don't appear to be life threatening, and that they haven't identified any suspects yet.

Akron police are investigating a robbery that took place Friday night.

Around 10:30 p.m., a 21-year-old woman was walking near the intersection of East Archwood Avenue and Clement Street.

The victim reported that a man approached her with his face covered and put a gun to her head.

He demanded the victim's belongings and she gave the suspect her driver's license and $34.00 in cash. The suspect fled the scene.

The suspect is described as a black male, 20 – 25 years old, 6’0” and 250 – 270 lbs. He was wearing black and red basketball shorts and black tank top.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department.

A man is facing charges after he barricaded himself inside a home Wednesday.

It happened around 6:45 p.m. when Springfield Township police were dispatched to 2119 Beach Drive for a domestic disturbance.

Steven Lee Mihal became agitated as officers approached the suspect and he then barricaded himself inside the home.

Police at the scene determined that multiple knives may be in the residence with Mihal and the Metro SWAT team responded to the scene.

After several attempts at negotiations, they entered the residence and subdued the suspect by using a less than lethal "sponge" round.

A martial style knife was found on the suspect and he was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.

Mihal was booked into Summit County Jail and charged with domestic menacing, inducing panic, and resisting arrest.