State & regional digest

LOCAL

State patrol probes fatal crash in Hubbard

HUBBARD — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a Monday evening crash in which one person died.

No information was available about the individual’s identity. The accident occurred around 7:45 p.m. on Youngstown-Hubbard Road. Township emergency personnel and OSHP responded.

No further information was available late Monday.

OHIO

Police: Woman shoots self at gun range, dies

SHARONVILLE — A woman rented a handgun at an indoor shooting range, got some instructions on how to use it and then fatally shot herself, police said Monday.

Police in the Cincinnati suburb of Sharonville said they believe the woman committed suicide Sunday at Target World, a public range that sells and rents guns and has a dozen 25-yard target shooting lanes.

The 46-year-old woman, Ann Fukuyama, of Cincinnati, died at a local hospital, police said.

Sgt. Keith Schoonover said the woman reportedly had attempted suicide before by other means and police believe she went to the target range to kill herself. He said she rented a 9 mm handgun, learned how to use it and then went into a target shooting lane and shot herself.

Witnesses said she gave no indication or warning that anything was wrong.

High court blocks bid to recall Toledo’s mayor

COLUMBUS — The state Supreme Court on Monday blocked from the November ballot a planned vote on whether to recall Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.

The high court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled that the deadline of two months before the election for the printing of absentee ballots would not give Finkbeiner enough time to challenge recall petitions.

The justices cited a previous case in which a court ruled that the proximity of an election would not give one of the parties an adequate legal remedy because the appeals process could last well past the election.

The high court also said the Lucas County Board of Elections disregarded applicable law when it rejected Finkbeiner’s protest that petitions were invalid because they lacked a mandatory statement that election falsification is a fifth-degree felony.

Earlier this month, Finkbeiner announced he will not seek re-election to a fourth term.

Man sentenced for punching police dog

DELAWARE — A judge has sentenced a man to six months in jail for assaulting a police dog by punching it in the head and throat and breaking a tooth.

Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Everett Krueger also ruled Monday that 45-year-old Jeffrey Metz, of Delaware, must serve five years on community control.

Deputies say Metz led them on a high-speed chase in January when they tried to pull him over for speeding and that he spun into a field.

They say he refused to get out of his vehicle. Officers sent a police dog named Thor into the car and say Metz punched the animal repeatedly.

Metz had also been convicted of failure to comply with a police order.

PENNSYLVANIA

Woman missing since ’02 may be declared dead

ERIE — The mother of a northwestern Pennsylvania woman who hasn’t been seen since 2002 is asking a judge to declare her legally dead.

Sabrina Kahler, of Erie, was 20 when she disappeared. She was last seen with an acquaintance who’s in prison in an unrelated case and hasn’t cooperated with investigators.

Her mother, Susan Burg, has asked a judge to declare Kahler legally dead. A judge is to hear the case Sept. 15.

Teen is charged with filming up skirts at school

EMMAUS — A northeast Pennsylvania teen is charged with filming up the skirts of female teachers and students and posting the images online.

The 15-year-old Emmaus High School student is charged with invasion of privacy and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

City police have identified 19 victims so far, all students or teachers at the school. Authorities say the Upper Milford Township boy used a cell phone to take videos and photographs posted to several Web sites.

Staff/wire reports