Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers

2021 Annual Report

Notes from the President

Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers, far from being a stand-alone organization, is a collaboration between community members, media, and law enforcement.  Each word in our name points to the collaboration that is needed, does exist, and is effective in meeting the community need to remove.  This collaboration results in the arrest of major criminals who prey upon citizens of the region covered by GCCS. 

Our region of responsibility includes five counties in Southwest Ohio (Adams, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren), three counties in Northern Kentucky (Boone, Campbell, and Kenton), and one county in Southeast Indiana (Dearborn).

The success of the Crime Stoppers operation is directly attributable to two major factors:  The payment of rewards and the protection of the anonymity of the tipsters.

The process of accepting anonymous tips is based on systems that intentionally do not collect information that could identify the tipster.  All communications between the tipster and call takers is based on code numbers randomly generated by computers.  This system has been upgraded as technology evolves but it has been the bedrock of operations since its inception many decades ago.

It is my pleasure to address some of the highlights of the work of the volunteers who make up the membership of the Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers.  Each year this group of dedicated individuals working collectively have made major contributions to the accomplishment of our mission.

The materials contained in this report reflect the raw data concerning the number of major crimes solved and criminals arrested, as well as the amount of money provided to fund the rewards that resulted in the tips so important to the investigators tasked with solving those crimes.

But raw data doesn’t truly reflect the impact of these actions.  We have included a selection of success stories associated with several of the major crimes solved through Crime Stoppers tips.  We believe these brief background stories emphasize the human impact of these crimes and the importance of providing closure to the victims and the families of the victims.

The first piece of raw data is the $83,300 paid out to 1,904 people providing tips that have led to the solving of 186 crimes and 82 arrests.

If you are interested in more information about our operation you can visit our website at:  www.crime-stoppers.us

Gene Ferrara

Statistics for 2021 and since initial year of operations

Success Stories from 2021

A tipster provided information that Michael Driver was wanted for a Parole Violation, and that he was hiding out with his girlfriend in Benton Kentucky. Kenton County Sheriff’s located Michael Daniel Leroy Driver based on the tipster’s information. Driver also had warrants for Rape, Incest and Sex Abuse with a victim who was 12 years old.

Nathan Ray Helton was wanted for a Felonious Assault shooting, an Armed Robbery and for Having Weapons Under Disability. A tipster reported an address in Norwood where Helton was hiding. Norwood and Reading detectives conducted surveillance that resulted in a pursuit that captured Nathan Helton. At the time of the arrest Helton was armed with a 9MM handgun. Nathan Ray Helton

On October 6, 2019, District One officers responded to investigate a report of a person shot in the 1700 block of Vine Street. Responding officers located deceased, Jovan Fleming, 27 years of age. Tipster provided Crimestoppers with the out-of-town location of Melvin Summers, wanted for the Murder. On February 19, 2021, the FBI Chicago Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force, in partnership with our Fugitive Apprehension Squad, arrested Melvin Summers, 24 years of age, on a Murder warrant. Mr. Summers is in custody at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois.

Blue Ash Police: On May 4th, 2021 a suspect attempted a robbery at the Fifth Third Bank inside the Kroger located at 4100 Hunt Road in Blue Ash. The suspect, described as male, approximately 5’8”, 200 lbs., fled the scene in a newer model, blue, Honda CRV. No injuries were reported in the incident. The news release was posted by Crimestoppers and the suspect was identified within hours of the incident. Paul Nathaniel Brock has been charged with Robbery.

Cincinnati Police sought help identifying a woman caught on camera macing multiple people, including a 3-year-old child at Washington Park. It happened on May 24 around 8 p.m. at the park's playground. Police released a video, the woman can be seen walking up to one of the entrances to the playground and then pulling out mace, macing multiple people and a child. A tipster identified the suspect as Terry Shelton charged with 6 counts of Assault.

On June 8, 2021, District Five officers responded to a reported shooting in the 200 block of W. Mitchell Avenue. Responding officers located a shooting victim Robbie Smythe Jr, a male 31 years of age. On June 15, 2021, Crimestoppers received information from a tipster that led to the FAS arrest of 18-year-old Christopher Solomon, charged with Murder. A juvenile, 16 years of age has also been charged for causing the death of Mr. Smythe.

Antonio Mathes was wanted for Having Weapons under Disability and a Felonious Assault shooting from 2020. Crimestoppers received a tip that Mathes was hiding out with relatives in Fort Worth Texas where he was arrested by the US Marshals Task Force.

District 5 Detectives were looking for Demonte McNear, wanted on four counts of Breaking and Entering into several businesses including a Family Dollar and a UDF where over 150 packs of cigarettes were stolen after he threw a brick through the window. A tipster spotted Demonte McNear in the park and notified Crimestoppers. Demonte was arrested by District Four.

Adam Shook was wanted by the Cincinnati Police Central Business District for Breaking and Entering and Safe Cracking for stealing money from the company safe. Tipster provided information to Casino security officers in St. Charles Missouri that led to his arrest. Adam Shook is in custody and pending extradition to Hamilton County.