Today's Journal...

No revival for Baltimore Street Gang

MIDDLETOWN —
The Baltimore Street Gang terrorized a Middletown neighborhood for years through assaults, robberies, drug dealing and eventually a New Year’s Eve homicide, according to police.

Last summer, Middletown police and Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser declared the gang had been shut down after Joe Eacholes received a 12-month prison sentence for attempted participation in a gang. He was the final member of the gang, which also included his brother Jerry Eacholes, to be sentenced

“The neighborhood has been very responsive to keeping us informed. Residents can walk the streets at night without worrying about some crazy fool hitting them in the head or shooting them,” Muterspaw said. “And they are not going to reorganize.”

Sylin Baltazr and his family live just across the street from the Eacholes residence. He said there is no doubt the street “is a whole lot” quieter since the gang was busted.

“The call me the hood coach, because I was always trying to help them stay out of trouble, because I’ve been there. I know what can happen,” Baltazr said.

In his younger days, before a heart attack and raising a family, Baltazr said he spent time in prison on a robbery charge.

Two young men played basketball in a small park on Baltimore Street on a sunny Friday afternoon. People talked outside BJ Market and some hung Christmas decorations.

“That’s what it is like now, kids can go down to the park,” said Joe Bogg, Sr. He and his family have lived in the neighborhood eight years.

Boggs said he grew up in Middletown then moved to Dayton

“I wanted to move back to Middletown to raise a family. Dayton’s a fast city. Middletown’s a smaller town. But it was just as bad.”

"BUT IT WAS JUST AS BAD".......

"LeRoy Clemons attributes much of the violence and crime to a lack of jobs leaving people without money, something to do and any recreation at all. But he applauds the police efforts to stop the gang activity"

"LACK OF JOBS LEAVING PEOPLE WITHOUT MONEY, SOMETHING TO DO AND ANY RECREATION AT ALL".......HMMM. PEOPLE WHO HAVED LIVED HERE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME AT ALL HAVE SAID THIS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON NEED FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY. CITY HALL....WHERE ARE YOU? ECON DEV.....WHERE ARE YOU?

Elderly woman targeted in home invasion

This is Middletown’s second home invasion investigation in three weeks.

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN —

Amen bo

My home alarm has been set off by accident two times in the last couple of months late at night,each time I waited for MPD to show up and both times no knocks on my door. So I test the alarm and its working fine when I called the alarm company both times they tell me that they did in fact dispatch Middletowns finest.Yet we never had any contact with an officer either time.

VietVet wrote: Bocephus wrote: My home alarm has been set off by accident two times in the last couple of months late at night,each time I waited for MPD to show up and both times no knocks on my door. So I test the alarm and its working fine when I called the alarm company both times they tell me that they did in fact dispatch Middletowns finest.Yet we never had any contact with an officer either time. And that's why we have guns.....gotta do it vigilante style if someone insists on invading your perimeter. Sounds like a reason not to wait for the proper authorities to respond, particularly if they don't respond at all. Worst case by waiting.....you could get dead. Undermanned, other priorities at the time, or just don't care? Regardless, if the cops don't show in a reasonable amount of time, ya gotta do what ya gotta do to protect yourself, right?