MEDIA RELEASE- On April 23, 2026, at approximately 1:56 a.m., the Hardin County Sheriff's Office received multiple reports regarding criminal damaging and criminal mischief occurring within the Village of Dunkirk.
Deputies arriving on the scene observed several individuals fleeing from a residence in the immediate vicinity of the reported property damage. Following a brief investigation and search of the area, deputies successfully located and detained the suspects.
A total of five subjects were taken into custody. All five individuals are juveniles. Following their apprehension, they were transported to a juvenile detention facility pending further legal action.
MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE__(Original release December 18, 2026) Death Investigation.
On November 24, 2025 Paula Dirmeyer came to the Ada Police Department to report that she had been assaulted within the Village of Ada by a known individual. Officers gathered information from her and began an investigation.
On November 27, officers were notified by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office that Paula had been found deceased in her rural Allen County home; her body was transported to Lucas County for a post-mortem exam.
MEDIA RELEASE__On April 2, 2026, a Hardin County Sheriff's Deputy was on routine patrol when they observed a Chevrolet SUV traveling at a high rate of speed on a rural county road. The Deputy, after confirming the speed, turned to initiate a traffic stop.
The suspect vehicle attempted to elude the Deputy by turning into a driveway in the 18000 block of County Road 146, continuing down a farm lane and eventually driving into a large open field. Despite continued signals from the Deputy to stop, the vehicle remained in motion until a second Deputy arrived on the scene. Working in coordination, the Deputies successfully blocked both points of exit from the field, containing the vehicle.
MEDIA RELEASE__On March 28, 2026, at approximately 10:17 A.M., the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a commercial semi-truck striking a car on US 30 at the Hancock County Line in Richland Township, Allen County.
Lawrence Morris Sr, age 62, from Toledo, Ohio, was southbound on CR 15 driving a 2015 Lincoln MKS. Andrew Skiles, age 54, from Rochester, Indiana, was westbound on US 30 driving a 2018 Kenworth Semi. Mr. Morris failed to yield at a posted stop sign and was struck in the side by the semi.
Mr. Morris suffered fatal injuries and was transported from the scene by Allen County Mortuary Services to Chiles-Laman Funeral Home.
MEDIA RLEASE__At approximately 6:48 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, the Hancock County Sheriff's Office responded to a two-vehicle, head-on injury crash in the 21000 block of State Route 235 in Orange Township.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2009 black Mitsubishi, driven by Caiden Helms, was traveling southbound on State Route 235 when it crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2023 Cadillac, driven by Kathy Elsass, head-on.
Following the collision, Kathy Elsass's vehicle caught fire, and she was initially trapped inside. She was pulled from the vehicle by a passing good Samaritan before it became fully engulfed in flames.
