An investigation is now underway after a resident snapped a photo of a Canton police officer who appeared to be sleeping on the clock.

The Canton Repository reports Sean Quinn sent the photo to the newspaper and said the officier was only a few hundred yards from a car crash. Quinn was looking for help following the collision on Monday.

Police Chief Dean McKimm told the Repository the officer was found inside his cruiser at 25th Street and Fulton Road NW. The chief did not name the officer in question.

McKimm says the officer could face disciplinary.

On the web: www.CantonRep.com

A woman faces felony charges for allegedly taking a wallet and beating the woman it belonged to.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office reports 24-year-old Nichole M. Buffington of Ravenna was arrested on felony robbery charges-- a third degree felony. 

A 67-year old female vicitm told deputies that a friend of a family member came to her home Tuesday.

Authorities say Bluffington entered the residence in the Pine Gate Trailer Park, off of Cleveland Road in Ravenna.

That's when they believe she picked up the woman's wallet and an alleged assault left the victim on the floor.

Bluffington drove off, but she was later nabbed by deputies.

A University of Akron faculty member receives $1 million to combat pipeline corrosion in Mexico.

Homero Castaneda-Lopez is with the U of A's corrosion engineering program, the first program of its kind in the nation.

The university reports he and his research team were awarded the grant from the National Council of Science and Technology-Mexico (CONACyT), to study the issues with Mexico's pipeline system during the next three years.

Press Release:

With its nearly 40,000 miles of underground pipelines and thousands of miles more slated for construction over the next few years, Mexico is taking a proactive scientific and technology approach to pipelinecorrosion prevention and mitigation, and is turning to The University of Akron for its expertise.

Homero Castaneda-Lopez, a faculty member with UA’s one-year-old corrosion engineering program — introduced in fall 2010 as the nation’s first such baccalaureate program — is answering the call. Castaneda-Lopez, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and his research team were awarded more than $1 million from the National Council of Science and Technology-Mexico (CONACyT) to study and assess the country’s pipeline corrosion issues over the next three years.

“Mexico has a lot of ecosystems, environments and precursors for corrosion and is working to bridge the gap between science and technology,” says Castaneda-Lopez, who explains the country’s efforts to introduce cutting-edge advancements in corrosion engineering to the field.

“What we see in the lab can be applicable in the field where steel pipelines thatcarry millions of gallons of gas, crude oil and petroleum products face consistent, time-dependent, aggressive environmental threats,” says Castaneda-Lopez, who lists moisture, ionic species, chemical elements and inherent operating conditions among major corrosion triggers.

Castaneda-Lopez and fellow research team members from Battelle, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Corrosion and Protection Engineering (CPI),Technology Center from Campeche (ITESCAM) and the Research Center for Electrochemistry(CIDETEQ) will simulate, in the lab, conditions to which Mexico’s pipelines are exposed and develop applicable technology solutions for field applications. Combined, the research institutions were awarded nearly $4 million from CONACyT Mexico for this research project.

Other engineering faculty members, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate and undergraduate studentswill support Castaneda-Lopez in conducting this research. They will performmuch of their work in the National Center for Education and Research in Corrosion and Materials Performance laboratories in UA’s new researchengineering building currently under construction on campus.

“This major international research award highlights CONACyT’s high regard for Prof. Castaneda-Lopez’ abilities and creates an important platform for even broader strategic collaboration in the future between UA faculty and Mexico’s science and technology research funding agencies. It provides an exciting opportunity to field-test corrosion management approaches developed in the UA National Center,” says Dr. George K. Haritos, dean of the UA College of Engineering.

On the web: www.uakron.edu

UPDATED The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the two victims of the double homicide this morning. Sara Scott, 43, of 829 Mercer Avenue and Donald Golden, 63, of 151 6th Street SW in New Phladelphia. The cause of death has not been determined at this time.

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Previous coverge:

A man and woman were discovered dead at a home in Akron Tuesday morning with gunshot wounds.

The Summit County medical examiner and the Akron police department are now investigating this incident, which is deemed a homicide.

The medical examiner's office reports the two victims, who are not identified, were found inside a home at about 8 a.m. in the 800 block of Mercer Avenue.

Authorities are waiting release the names of the victims until family members are notified.

Follow AkronNewsNow.com for updates on this story as more details become available.

A kidnapping suspect fires a round at sheriff deputies before he was taken into custody.

The Summit County Sheriff's Office reports 52-year old James Maffei of Coventry Township is charged with kidnapping for allegedly holding a 17-year old girl at his home from Saturday until Monday.

The Sheriff's Office reports the victim and a friend stopped by Maffei's home on Dollar Drive on Saturday. The friend and Maffei had a fight over a debt.

Deputies say Maffei shot the victim's friend, who ran away, as the victim was held hostage. The victim escaped Monday night and she told authorities she was held against her will and an assault took place over the weekend.

A search warrant was used by sheriff deputies to enter Maffei's home. That's when officials say Maffei fired a round of shots at them before he was arrested.

Maffei is now sitting in the Summit County Jail and additional charges are pending as deputies continue to investigate the incident.

Police in Wooster say two shootings that happened over the weekend were related.

WKYC Channel 3 News reports 21-year-old Clifford J. Johnson was shot in the 500 block of E. North Street at 4:30 a.m. Saturday. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries.

Police have identified a suspect and are searching for him.

A second shooting is believed to be connected to this incident. The gunfire for the second shooting happened on Washington Street Sunday morning in Wooster. No one was injured.

As Wooster police investigate both crimes, anyone with information may call the detective's office at 330-287-5720.

Previous Coverage:

Wooster Police Looking Into Homicide

A Highland Square beauty shop owner arrived to her business Thursday afternoon to find a symbol on her front door.

Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards says the Akron Gang Unit interviewed Bobbi Smith, the owner of A Beautiful You Hair Salon Thursday afternoon, regarding the symbol she told the Beacon Journal "offended" her.

The marking is described to look like a Nazi swastika, about two inches wide and police say it was created with a black permanent marker.

"Our gang unit is very good with these types of investigations," he said. "First, you have to determine if this is a tagging incident or is it graffiti, and according to our gang unit, this would be graffiti."

Edwards said this is the only incident of its kind for some time.

"We have not had any other reported incidents like this," Lt. Edwards said. "Our gang unit is going to be following up on it."

Anyone can access the shop located inside the Highland Square Apartment complex at 733 W. Market St.

Edwards said Smith was troubled by the incident and anytime residents are concerned, he said they will try their best to get to the bottom of it. 

"Anytime that we have these types of incidents and somebody's concerned about, obviously we take it serious and we're going to look into it," he said.

The gang unit is investigating if any former customers or anyone Smith knows are at all responsible and why. Edwards said they've requested surveillance tapes outside the shop to see if a suspect can be spotted. 

An investigation into a number of complaints leads to the arrest of two on drug charges.

The Akron Police Narcotics Unit used a search warrant to enter an Akron home at 860 Avon Street. On Wednesday evening, authorities found more than 40 grams of crack cocaine and almost 80 grams of the drug in powdered form. More than $3,000 cash accompanied the drugs.

Detectives then arrested Letroy Graham, 28, on trafficking cocaine charges, among other charges. April Stoyer, 20, was also arrested on the same charges. The two Avon Street residents were taken to the Summit County Jail, putting an end to the month-long investigation. 

The police search for a wanted Barberton man ends in handcuffs.

19-year old Michael S. Spears Jr. was arrested late last night in Akron near the intersection of Thornton Street and South Rhodes Avenue.

He was arrested by Akron police officers and the U.S. Marshals Office Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force on charges of domestic violence, felonious assault and discharging a firearm.

He was taken to the Summit County Jail.

Earlier this week, police say Spears Jr. and his father had a verbal fight that turned sour when Spears Jr. allegedly pulled out a gun and fired several shots. Police reports one of the shots was directed toward the father.

No one suffered injuries.  

Previous Coverage:

Barberton Man Wanted For Shooting At Dad

It's the last original retail business along Main Street in downtown Akron. The Peanut Shoppe opened in the 1930's and has stayed in place, even as the number those flocking to the downtown changed over the years.

Owner Marge Klein now says crowds are coming into her store.

"They always seem to come back," she said of her loyal followers.

Klein also credits Lock 3's winter activities for drawing families downtown.

"Lock 3 has been a real asset for us, it's really helping us get through," she said.

"Any of the events they have over there, it brings people downtown and they always seem to come across the street to us. It does increase our foot traffic immensely ."

While she relies heavily on holiday sales, Klein said it's important during the season for her to spread the word that she's open year-round.

Klein favors the blanched, salted peanuts and she's selling lots of nuts. This year, the most purchase items include honey and regular cashews, the bridge mix and the holiday chocolate-covered pretzels.

More gift-givers are picking up almond butter and natural peanut butter than they have in years past.

"It seems like that is more popular today than it's ever been," she said.

Even after the holiday pass, Klein said she expects business to stay steady thanks to the ice skating and tubing across the street.

Akron Chocolate Maker Confident In Holiday Sales

Despite losing four wholesalers during the recession, Larry Temo says his Akron business is doing better.

"We can survive," he said.

"We can tell by Christmas tree we sell outside the store and the store here, we have a pretty good, steady clientelle that knows our product and come just about every year."

Working seven days a week, Temo hand dips thousands of chocolates during the Christmas season at his West Exchange Street location.

His top seller: an open-faced, hollow Christmas tree, that's filled with treats.

"We fill those with assorted chocolates, we overwrap that and we box that," he said.

While the tree is his more "stable" item he manufactures, Temo said a number of his loyal customers bulk chocolate in bulk.

On the web: The Peanut Shoppe