Piqua High student drowns in pond

Grief counselors were at Piqua High School on Monday to assist students and staff members after a student was found dead in a pond Sunday.

Police identified the victim as Zachary Vincent Paul McDaniel, 16, of Piqua.

McDaniel was fishing with his stepfather, who called 911 after McDaniel went into the water to retrieve a fishing lure, Piqua police said.

Piqua crews were called just before 4:30 p.m. to a small pond at the intersection of Statler Road and Cromes Drive, Piqua Police Lt. Marcos Rodriguez said.

McDaniel’s body was recovered at 7:16 p.m., the lieutenant said.

Superintendent Dwayne Thompson said teachers debriefed their students during the first period of the school day Monday regarding the death of McDaniel, who was a sophomore, and students were given the opportunity to meet with a grief counselor.

“At this time our staff and students are doing what they do best in times like this — supporting one another and sharing fond memories of a good friend,” Thompson said. “Students will have support throughout the remainder of the school day and throughout this week as necessary. Our deepest sympathy goes out to this family as we respect their privacy at this time.”

A former BUTLER COUNTY — Miami University police officer is accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a co-worker and grabbing her buttocks at least 40 times, according to an internal report obtained by the Journal-News.

Dustin Young, 36, of Trenton, was indicted last month by a Butler County grand jury for gross sexual imposition, kidnapping and two counts of abduction.

A former Miami University police officer, Young is facing four felony charges. He waived his speedy trial rights Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Young, along with his attorney Dan Haughey, declined to comment after the hearing.

The alleged crimes occurred between Aug. 1 and Nov. 12, 2016, according to the indictment.

The woman said she became friends with Young and began exchanging text messages soon after she started working at Miami University. But the messages from Young became inappropriate and continued until the police investigation, according to the internal report.

Young grabbed the woman’s buttocks at least 40 times, the woman alleges in the internal report. The woman also alleges Young pulled her into his lap and touched her crotch and pinned her against lockers on two occasions.

Court documents obtained by the Journal-News say Young “did use his arm to hook (the woman) between the legs, pulling her down to his lap, rubbing his arm on her crotch and using his hand to grab her breast, for purposes of sexual arousal and/or gratification.”

Young also grabbed the woman, “causing her to hit her head on a metal book case, creating a risk and actually causing physical harm, then pushing her back against the lockers, which further placed her in fear,” according to court documents.

Young, who was a sergeant, resigned from the department on Jan. 11. He was placed on administrative leave on Nov. 22 after a co-worker filed a complaint against him, according to an internal report reviewed by the Journal-News.

The Hamilton Police Department conducted the criminal investigation that resulted in a direct indictment on April 26, which was sealed until Young’s arrest.

Another person interviewed by police said Young drove the woman to the university airport multiple times in an attempt to have sex with her.

Young was arraigned by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster Jr., who set bond at $50,000. He is free from jail after posted 10 percent of the bond, according to court records.