Officer in domestic violence case faced similar charge
Kettering Municipal Court judge expunged unrelated case in 1997.
The Huber Heights police officer arrested Monday on a domestic violence charge faced a similar charge two decades ago, the Dayton Daily News’ review of his personnel file found.
Matthew Blair was arrested on a domestic violence charge in 1995 while employed as a Madison Twp. police officer, according to written statements he made during a background check. A Huber Heights detective noted in Blair’s 2001 pre-employment check that the incident — expunged by a Kettering Municipal Court judge in 1997 — and his struggles to pay bills on time were concerning.
Blair, 43, was arrested Monday by Tipp City Police after allegedly throwing a dog food bowl at his wife during an argument about a past-due bill. Blair pleaded not guilty to the charge Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance. He is on paid administrative leave pending the criminal investigation and an internal investigation by the Huber Heights Police Department.
As a Huber Heights officer, Blair frequently earned “fully competent” performance reviews since joining the department in March 2001.
“Dependable, reliable, and solid officer,” wrote one supe-
an alarming 130 percent — from 37 during the first quarter of 2015 to 85 during the first three months of this year — according to a Montgomery County Poisoning Death Review released Monday. The pace of deaths, sped by the availability of illicit fentanyl, almost assures the county will experience more deaths than the 2014 high of 269.
“The overall findings of the report are devastating. We have seen a 26 percent increase in the use of illicit fentanyl in people who have died of drug overdoses,” said Robert Carlson, a Wright State University researcher and director of the review. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid sold on the streets as heroin but can be up to 50 times stronger.
The rally’s message Sunday will move beyond alarm for the epidemic and put light on the progress made toward eliminating the stigma associated with addiction and show that recovery works, Erion said.
“This is just a really positive approach to educating people and bringing awareness rather than the doom that we hear a lot,” she said.
The free event will feature more than 50 resource tables. Entertainment will be provided by three a cappella groups: the nationally known Street Corner Symphony In addition to speakers, there will be a raffle, food, a digital photo booth, face-painting, a hope and memories canvas to sign, and more. Two of the highlights of the event will be a group photo of anyone in the community touched by addiction and a launch of 1,200 balloons signifying a personal or loved one’s place in recovery.
“If a family is living with this as a secret because they don’t want anyone to know, this is our way of saying, hey, you are not alone. Come join us,” Erion said. “Get educated and treat it like any other illness that a family may come upon.”