Since its inception in 1994, the Licking County Crime Stoppers’ has worked with local law enforcement agencies to help keep criminals off the streets. Since 2000, the Licking County Crime Stoppers has paid out a total of $27,450 in rewards to individuals who have tipped police with information in 62 reward payouts involving unsolved crimes and the whereabouts of Crime Stoppers Most Wanted suspects.
In 2011, Crime Stoppers paid out $2,300 on tips that helped solve crimes including a man stealing a car in Newark that had a three-year old child in the backseat (the car was later found with the child unharmed), a break-in at a jewelry store in Heath, several thefts involving credit cards used at area stores, and Most Wanted Cases where police were trying to find fugitives and suspects.
In 2010, Crime Stoppers paid out $5,750 on tips that helped solve crimes including bank robberies at PNC in Heath and Park National Bank at Dugway in Newark, break-ins around Licking County, a counterfeit money ring, and other crimes.
Some of the more significant crimes that Crime Stoppers has paid rewards for include:
- A Crime Stoppers tip helped police in the conviction of Iradell “Ike” Crumpton in the 2005 triple homicide of Misty Butts, John Boyce, and James Nelms at a home at 416 E. Main St. in Newark.
- A Crime Stoppers tip helped police solve a 2010 PNC bank robbery in Heath.
- A Crime Stoppers tip helped police solve a 2010 Park National Bank robbery in Newark.
- A Crime Stoppers tip helped police find the gun used in the 2007 murder of Raymond Dickerson on Mt. Vernon Rd. in Newark that helped in the conviction of Megan Arensberg and Ashley Baker.
- A Crime Stoppers tip helped police in the conviction of two men in the 1999 murder of Sammy Stallworth on Mill St. in Newark.
- A Crime Stoppers tip helped police in the conviction of Jerry Linkous on multiple Breaking and Entering charges and the Aggravated Robbery of Subway restaurant on S. 30th St. in Newark.
- A Crime Stoppers tip from a Newark High School student helped police in the conviction of another Newark High School student charged with calling in a bomb threat to Newark High School.
Newark Police Detective Steve Vanoy, who serves as a liaison between Licking County Crime Stoppers and the Newark Police Department, said, “Crime Stoppers has been an invaluable tool to Licking County law enforcement. Crime Stoppers is a prime example of how citizens and police can work together to fight crime. We encourage people to call police if they have information that we should be aware of.”
In Sept 2006, Licking County Crime Stoppers created the Most Wanted program which has a high success rate, with law enforcement agencies making arrests from Crime Stoppers press releases asking the public to notify police of the whereabouts of certain suspects for monetary rewards.
Crime Stoppers also takes calls from persons with information about any serious crime. A special coding system protects the identity of the caller but allows for the reward to be issued at a later time. If you have information on any other serious crimes, please call Licking County Crime Stoppers at 740-349-6888 or 1-888-488-9058.
Licking County Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization created in 1994, to help solve a kidnapping and assault of a five-year-old girl. Reward money comes from private individuals, businesses, and foundations that see Crime Stoppers as an integral tool in the community’s fight against crime. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to: Licking County Crime Stoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 304, Newark, OH 43058-0304.
