Prisoner tries to make an escape

A Columbiana County deputy sheriff was slightly injured.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — A Columbiana County man who said he wanted to rehabilitate himself faces more charges after trying to escape while being taken to prison.

Anthony D. Gingher, 39, who has given authorities addresses in East Palestine and New Waterford, tried to kick out the windows of a transport van driven by deputies from Columbiana County.

The attempted escape began about 7:43 a.m. Wednesday in the westbound lane on Interstate 76 in Norton, Ohio.

Detective Sgt. Andy Sweeney and Deputy Kip Dowling of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office issued an “officer needs help” call and pulled over to the side of the road.

They subdued Gingher until Norton police and officers from the Wadsworth and Barberton police departments and the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded.

Sweeney had minor cuts near his jaw from broken glass, according to Columbiana County Sheriff David Smith.

Gingher and two other prisoners were treated for minor cuts from the broken glass but were not taken to a hospital, according to Norton Police Chief Greg Carris.

Escape and vandalism

Gingher was taken to the Summit County Jail, where he has been charged with felony counts of escape and vandalism.

Deputies from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office took the other five prisoners to the Lorain Correctional Facility.

Carris said the other five prisoners made no attempt to escape. All the prisoners were shackled during the trip, Smith said.

Gingher was sentenced recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on 38 counts of theft, burglary, breaking and entering and receiving stolen property as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Officials said Gingher broke into homes, the East Palestine administration building, a church and two law offices, and also stole a number of vehicles to feed his drug problem.

Tammie Riley Jones, the assistant Columbiana County Prosecutor who handled the case, said that during the sentencing hearing, Gingher said he wanted to get help for his drug problem.

But, Jones said, she still recommended the seven year prison term.

wilkinson@vindy.com