Ohio is observing Drug Take Back Day today.

Dozens of police departments and other agencies have set aside designated times and places to allow people to drop off unused, unwanted or expired medications. 

Authorities say it's the best way to avoid taking expired prescriptions or letting unwanted meds end up in the wrong hands.  It's not uncommon to simply flush them in a toilet, but that practice has been linked to traces of active ingredients showing up in water supplies.

In the Akron area, you can drop off at police stations in Copley and Bath Townships and the Twinsburg Police Department.  Also, Akron police are participating at the Akron METRO parking lot.  Copley Township authorities are also stationed at Chambrel at Montrose.

The effort is coordinated nationally by the Drug Enforcement Agency and regionally by attorneys general.  Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says Ohioans turned in about 9 tons of used an expired drugs during the official collection in October.

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The woman accused of posing as a veterinarian will be facing additional charges as her Monday pretrial approaches.

Akron Police Detective Steve Null tells AkronNewsNow.com that several people have come forward since the original indictment came out against Brandi Tomko.

"Several people have come forward, reports were filed," Null said.

"As of this (Friday) morning, new charges were presented to the grand jury in reference to those new complaints."

Authorities say Tomko treated animals at the now-closed C & D Animal Hospital on Brittain Road in Akron.

Tomko is currently charged with over 30 counts of animal cruelty, identity fraud, and practicing without a license, even though she had no formal veterinary training. She allegedly drew blood, wrote prescriptions for animals and performed surgeries on them, some resulting in death.

Akron Police say she used the money from customers to support a drug habit. She has pleaded not guilty.

Null explains what could happen at Tomko's next court appearance Monday, April 30.

"I'd imagine at that time the new charges would be read to her for the arraignment on these additional charges and the judge would set a trial date at that time."

Brandi Tomko is currently a free woman after posting bond April 24.

An Akron woman is behind bars for allegedly taking her friend's jewelry valued at  over $12,000.

News Channel 5 reports 33-year-old Carrie Henderson is facing theft charges after she admitted to Akron Police she took the woman's jewelry.

Henderson served as a caretaker for a 71-year old woman who returned to her home Tuesday after spending time in the hospital.

When the elderly woman came back home, she found four rings missing out of her jewelry box. The woman said Henderson spent all of her time in the living room where the jewelry box was located and told police that she was the only one who could have taken her rings.

Akron Police went to Henderson's home on Kling street to ask her about the stolen jewelry and during the interview, she admitted to stealing the rings and pawned them so she could pay her rent.

Henderson was charged with theft and was booked into the Summit County Jail.

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A cashier at BJ's Wholesale Club is in hot water after allegedly stealing from the company.

23-year-old Steve McManus is now facing theft charges after allegedly taking a total of $5,550 worth of gift cards and marked -down merchandise from the store.

Akron Police say McManus,  took the items over a 2 month period.

No word yet on a court date for McManus.

Police have arrested two men in connection with a robbery late Wednesday night,

Shortly before midnight, a 21 year old man  flagged officers down near the intersection of Johnston Street and South Arlington.

 The man reported he was just robbed of his boots by two men on bicycles.While conducting a police report another cruiser spotted the alleged thieves near Champlain Street and Clark Street.

Officers arrested Damon McCraney and James Avent for the alleged incident. They were charged with Robbery and booked into the Summit County Jail

Officers gave the man his boots back.

Three men have been arrested in connection with a meth lab bust on Kenmore Boulevard.

Officers responded to a citizen’s call for a possible meth lab on the site.

The business owner gave consent for the officers to search the business. Officers then found  a working meth lab and three men inside of the business.

Officers arrested Scott McDaniel, Clifford Smith, and Michael Spears. All three were charged with with Manufacturing of Methamphetamines and Assembly of Chemicals and booked into the Summit County Jail.

Police have an Akron man in custody after allegedly breaking into a church.

Officers arrested 24-year-old Ramaine Porter after he allegedly forced open a first floor window of The Chapel of Prayer Baptist Church on Brittain Road.

Police say Porter then entered the church and stole a computer and $300.00 in cash.

Porter was identified from a fingerprint after detectives conducted an investigation at the church.

Police followed up and located  Ramaine Porter  at his home. He then gave the officers consent to search the home and officers recovered the stolen items.

He was charged with Breaking and Entering, Receiving Stolen Property and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was booked into the Summit County Jail.
 

As police in Akron continue to look for leads to help solve last Friday's shooting death of Kenmore High School junior Willie Brewer III, others continue to ask for any witnesses to contact police.

Akron City Council President Marco Sommerville says it's not realistic to sit back and watch police try to solve a crime when nobody is offering information the need to do so. 

"This is just craziness," said Sommerville.  "It's up to the community.  It's not so much up the police.  The police are going to do what they do.  But do you know something?  Somebody knows about this.  Somebody has information and they need to talk about it and tell us so we can get these people off the street."

Sommerville says holding back information only gives criminals more power to commit more crimes because they know it's more difficult to get caught.

Sommerville's funeral home is working with the Brewer family on final arrangements for the Kenmore High School junior.  He says it's almost too much to take.

And just to have them go through what they went through, and the agony and the pain and the tears.  It was just something that, even as a funeral director - and I've been at this a long time, I just can't get used to," said Sommerville.

Funeral arrangements for Brewer have not yet been announced.

The shooting death of Willie Brewer III last Friday marked at least the third time the young man had been the target of violence.

According to Akron police, Brewer was shot last May as he sat on a porch at a house on Delia Avenue.  Police responded to the car indicating that someone had blood pouring from his chest.  Brewer was hospitalized in serious condition, but survived.

Then less than a month ago - on Brewer's 17th birthday - police say two suspects posted messages on Brewer's Facebook page, threatening physical harm to him at a birthday party.  The messages mentioned the use of guns.

It's ironic, at least.  Police, however, are not suggesting that any of the incidents are related.

Akron Police are currently investigating  a double shooting on the city's west side that resulted in the death of a teenager.

Akron Police Lieutenant Rick Edwards tells AkronNewsNow.com that the officers arrived on scene and found two victims, a 17-year-old and a 55-year old.

The 17-year old shooting victim was pronounced dead at the hospital. A name is being witheld pending family notification. No word on the older victim's condition.

Police confirm they got a call around 3:33 Friday afternoon to the Mr. Pantry at the corner of Copley Road and Storer Ave.

Police do not have a suspect at this time.

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