Woman falsely accuses her landlord of saying he doesn't want black tenants — and makes it much worse by involving feds



A Cincinnati woman falsely accused her landlord of saying he doesn't want black tenants, and she pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements to federal agents about the matter, the U.S. Department of Justice said last week.

What's the background?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in February 2023 was forwarded several text messages purportedly sent by a Cincinnati-area landlord as part of a civil rights report, officials said, citing court documents.

The landlord owns more than 100 properties — including 56 properties rented through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s housing choice voucher program — and many of his tenants appear to be black, officials said.

In March 2023, Dermisha Pickett met with HUD agents and gave them numerous discriminatory messages purportedly from Pickett’s landlord, officials said, adding that Pickett also claimed her landlord called her as she arrived at the meeting and placed the call on speaker phone.

Pickett told agents she tried to pay her portion of the rent but that her landlord returned it, stating he did not want to rent to black people, officials said.

Fanon Rucker — Pickett's attorney at the time — shared multiple alleged screenshots of texts from her landlord stating he wanted "a white family in this unit" and "will not rent [to] African Americans again," WCPO-TV reported.

"If it doesn't make everybody who hears this angry, then folks need to check their pulse," Rucker said nearly a year ago, according to video from the station.

But the landlord during a later interview with agents told them he didn't want to continue to rent to Pickett because she was causing extensive damage to the property, officials said, adding that phone records and forensic analysis indicate that no text messages were exchanged during the time periods Pickett claimed and that it's alleged she used mobile applications to fabricate the text messages.

WCPO said it was discovered that an alleged voicemail from the landlord was linked to a phone number tied to Pickett.

Now what?

“Making false reports of racial discrimination is unacceptable and can have tangible effects on other tenants who rely on HUD-assisted housing,” Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the HUD Office of Inspector General said. “In this case, if the landlord had violated the Fair Housing Act, his participation in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program may have been revoked, causing the displacement of approximately 50 families who rely on the Housing Choice Voucher program. These families would have been forced to uproot their families to find new homes, incurring non-reimbursable expenses.”

Pickett, 33, was charged in August 2023, officials said, adding that making a false statement to federal officers is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Here's a video report that aired when the tables started turning on Pickett about six months ago:

Cincinnati woman allegedly made up discriminatory messages from landlord youtu.be

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Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning dead at 62



Former Major League Baseball player Tom Browning, who pitched a perfect game in 1988 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds, is dead at the age of 62 years old.

According to a Boone County Sheriff's Office press release, authorities responded to the man's home in Kentucky on Monday due to a report of a man discovered not breathing.

"Upon arrival, deputies located a 62-year-old man, later identified as Thomas L. Browning, unresponsive on a couch inside of the home," the release noted. "No foul play is suspected in connection with Mr. Browning's death."

\u201cSheriff Michael A. Helmig reports the death of former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Tom Browning.\u201d
— Boone County Sheriff\u2019s Office (@Boone County Sheriff\u2019s Office) 1671482606

Browning's wife had passed away earlier this year in March, according to Cincinnati.com. On December 14, Tom Browning had pled guilty to a misdemeanor drunk driving charge, the outlet reported, citing court records.

According to MLB.com, Browning experienced a fractured bone while pitching in 1994 — video footage of the dramatic incident shows the athlete collapse to the ground after throwing the ball. His baseball career concluded with the Kansas City Royals in 1995 — MLB.com indicated that he had to retire due to breaking the same bone.

"The entire Reds family is stunned and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tom Browning," a Reds press release noted. "Affectionately referred to as 'Mr. Perfect,' Tom was a true Red who after his playing days made the Cincinnati area his home and remained heavily involved with the organization."

"A fan favorite, the Reds Hall of Famer touched fans' hearts at team events, Reds Hall of Fame festivities and Reds Community Fund activities," the team noted. "We join Reds Country in mourning the loss of one [of] our all-time greats, who created so many memories and magical moments for us all. Our deepest condolences to Tom's family during this difficult time."

\u201cThe Reds are saddened to learn of the passing of former pitcher Tom Browning.\u201d
— Cincinnati Reds (@Cincinnati Reds) 1671484634
'You brought the kung flu here': Man charged with federal hate crime following attack against Asian student

'You brought the kung flu here': Man charged with federal hate crime following attack against Asian student



A black man in Ohio now faces federal hate crime charges after he allegedly attacked an Asian student and hurled racially-charged invectives at him.

On Wednesday, Darrin Johnson, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury for a hate crime charge stemming from an August 2021 attack. The incident took place near the University of Cincinnati, just as students were returning to campus. At the time, Johnson supposedly yelled various ethnic slurs at the Asian American student, including "get away from me, you Asian," "go back to your country," and "you [brought] the kung flu here."

He also allegedly threatened to kill the young man, identified only as Tyler. "You're going to die for bringing it," Johnson allegedly stated.

After the verbal assault, Johnson punched the unnamed victim in the head, reports claimed. The force of the blow caused the man to fall backwards and strike his head on a car bumper. Police said that Johnson continued assaulting Tyler, who is a UC student, while he was bleeding on the ground. Tyler suffered several injuries during the attack, including facial lacerations and a concussion.

Two witnesses to the event then physically contained Johnson and waited for police to arrive, reports said.



In October 2021, Johnson pled guilty to misdemeanor assault and criminal intimidation for the incident and was sentenced to nearly a year in jail — 360 days. Johnson has since served that sentence. Johnson was arrested again on Thursday morning, following the grand jury indictment.

There are several federal officials involved in this case. U.S. attorney Kenneth Parker and FBI special agent J. William Rivers announced the charges, and assistant U.S. attorney Megan Gaffney Painter will be prosecuting the case. They believe that Johnson was motivated to attack Tyler because of his race.

Johnson faces up to 10 years in federal prison, if convicted.

Tyler spoke to reporters following the federal indictment.

"I feel really hopeful that things are going to go in the right direction," he said. "And I hope [Johnson] gets the mental treatment he needs."


H/T: Fox News

Teen shoots father over argument about bedtime, steals a car, flees to another state: Police



A teenager in Ohio shot his father over an argument about his bedtime, according to police. The teen then reportedly stole a car and fled to his mother's house in another state.

Shortly after midnight on May 11, a 15-year-old boy allegedly shot his father in the stomach over an argument about what time the teen should go to bed. The father, 45-year-old Damon Robinson, was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and is expected to survive, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The boy's 17-year-old stepsister called 911 to alert the police that the father was shot by his son, Newsweek reported.

The Forest Park Police Department said the son fled the crime scene and allegedly stole a vehicle from a local business, according to WXIX-TV.

Forest Park Police Lt. Adam Pape said the Ohio teen drove the stolen vehicle more than 100 miles to his mother's home in Lexington, Kentucky.

Police tracked down the teen, who surrendered himself to authorities.

The eighth-grader was charged with felonious assault and auto theft.

It was not clear where the teen got the gun.

During a video conference call on Monday, the father informed Hamilton County Juvenile Court Magistrate Elizabeth Igoe that his son can't stay at his home.

"He can't stay with me, your honor. It's pretty much self-explanatory to see where I'm at," the dad said from a hospital bed. "I feel like these little problems have been popping up and up, and I feel like it's a slap on the wrist to let him out right now."

The mother welcomed the son to live at her house in Kentucky. However, Magistrate Igoe said the teen could not be released to his mother because she lives in a different state from where the shooting allegedly took place, WXIX-TV reported.

The suspect's mother said the minor has no family in Cincinnati.

“He was there to live with his father – I just needed a man at the time to be in his life – the full details of this case have not been exposed," the mom told the magistrate. "But he has no family support in Cincinnati. None. He doesn’t know any children there, he knows no one besides his dad and his mother. I have not been contacted by anyone from that family at any form of support.”

The suspect's older brother told the magistrate, ”We just want him to have a good environment around him because (he) is not a bad kid. He just may have had some issues that he was going through but (he) is not a bad kid at all.”

Hamilton County Assistant Juvenile Court Prosecutor Jon Halvonik asked the court to keep the minor in custody.

“There are allegations of a firearm being involved, serious physical harm being involved," Halvonik said. "Your Honor, if the court were to release this defendant, the state would have concerns that he may have access to weapons. There were allegations that he fled Hamilton County after this incident, and you even heard from the prosecuting witness, or the victim in this case, that problems keep adding up.”

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters told WXIX-TV, "Anyone who uses guns to hurt others should be locked up. Period. Especially those who have proven themselves to be a flight risk. There is an attitude that juvenile offenders should never be locked up because they are minors. But we have an entire facility specifically designed to house violent juvenile offenders. If someone who shoots their own father and then flees the state isn’t suitable to be detained at the Youth Center, then who is?”

There will be a hearing on May 24 – when a plan will be devised as to where the minor will be housed.

Foul ball pop-up heads into the stands — directly at a man bottle-feeding an infant. What happens next is nothing short of incredible.



Video footage of a foul ball flying into the stands at a recent game between the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres has gone viral after a man bottle-feeding an infant deftly caught the ball — all while avoiding spilling a single drop of milk.

What are the details?

The now-viral foul ball came rushing at spectator Jacob Kingsley while he was bottle-feeding his child during Tuesday night's game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Video captured the moment the ball flew at Kingsley as he held the baby in his arms. Kingsley could be seen ever so slightly leaning out of his seat and putting up his free hand to catch the ball — never once flinching or disrupting the child's feeding time.

What is being said about this?

Kingsley told Bally Sports that he saw the ball and immediately went into protection mode.

"Safety first, obviously," he told reporter Jim Day. "I saw the ball pop up and just wanted to keep him happy and so did my best to protect him at the same time. I reached a hand up, had some fierce competition, but it ended up happening great, but baby first."

Kingsley added that the heroic save coincided with his infant son's very first Reds game.

"He probably didn't even know what was happening, but this will be a great memory to share with him," he told Day. "It's his first Reds game and so we have the certificate there, too."

Kingsley's wife, Jordan, said that she was proud of her husband's actions.

"He took the job seriously," she gushed. "Baby's happy, I'm happy, and I'm just impressed."

The Cincinnati Reds shared the moment on the team's Twitter page, where they captioned the clip, "Catching a foul ball while bottle-feeding the baby... just dad things."

The video has been viewed more than 1.5 million times at the time of this reporting.

Catching a foul ball while bottle-feeding the baby... just dad things.pic.twitter.com/tTXL0oDquu
— Cincinnati Reds (@Cincinnati Reds) 1651019244
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Shocking photo shows man shooting women over road rage incident while holding baby



Shocking photos show the moment a man erupted in a road rage shooting in Ohio. The man was enraged over a minor car crash, which reportedly did not include damage to the vehicles and he was not actually involved in. Inconceivable images show the man fire gunshots at women in the nearby car while he was holding a baby with his other hand.

There was a "minor, non-damage" car accident involving two female drivers, according to the Cincinnati Police Department. One of the drivers allegedly told the other, "I'm gonna go get my man, you better go get yours."

Approximately 30 minutes later, one of the drivers returned with Ladon Penn.

"Penn walked out of his car, walked into a home, and reappeared with a gun," the Cincinnati Police Department statement read. "Mr. Penn then start[ed] firing shots at the victim [the 54-year-old woman] and two other women with her. One round ricocheted and grazed the victim."

The 54-year-old woman suffered a "minor gunshot wound to her forearm." Police said, "She was treated and released at the scene."

Penn and the second woman fled from the crime scene. Police officers apprehended the couple about two miles from the location of the car accident. Officers recovered a 9mm handgun they believe was used in the shooting.

Penn, 31, was charged with three counts of felonious assault, child endangerment, and weapons under disability. Police didn't mention if the female acquaintance of Penn will face any charges.

Authorities obtained video of the shooting, and shared unbelievable screenshots that show Penn firing the gun while holding a small baby.

Cincinnati Police Department