Police ask for help identifying suspect

PUT-IN-BAY — Put-in-Bay police asked the public for assistance in identifying a suspect. The police department posted a picture of surveillance footage of a man who police say was "in the downtown business district on Aug. 23" and asked members of the community to help identify the person. "If you know this person, please call the Department at 419-285-4121 or email info@pibpolice.com," the post states. Police did not specify what the suspect was accused of. But several social media users — sharing the department's post — claimed the suspect had severely assaulted a man at a bar; one person, who said they were the victim's sibling, said he had been "airlifted to the hospital with a neck fracture, a large head wound and a severe concussion." The situation around the suspect's alleged crimes and the status of the alleged victim were not able to be independently verified as of Monday afternoon. Police Chief James Kimble declined to speak to a reporter Monday afternoon. A person who answered the department's main phone line said they were not authorized to speak to a reporter, but said they would relay the message to someone who was authorized. No call was returned to the newspaper as of Monday evening. The department also took down its Facebook post without explanation sometime Monday afternoon.