The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Ex-officer takes the stand in woman’s trial
One of the first officers on scene after Jeremy Simko was killed testified Sept. 19 that his wife, Julene M. Simko, was not performing CPR on the man when he entered their bedroom.
The testimony came from former Vermilion police Sgt. Michael W. Reinheimer who, along with two other officers, arrived first on scene shortly after the man’s death at about 6 a.m., Nov. 18, 2009.
Julene Simko, 38, of Vermilion, is on trial before Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark A. Betleski in connection with the killing.
She is facing a single aggravated murder charge, two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and a single charge of tampering with evidence.
Reinheimer, who currently works as an asset protection agent for Walmart, testified he was working the night shift at the time of the killing when he received a call for a person who was shot at the Simkos home, 2001 North Ridge Road.
He said he and other officers left the police station with their lights and sirens activated, but turned them off as they approached North Ridge Road.
“The information we were getting was that a person could still be on scene — the shooter or assailant — and we didn’t want to warn them that we were pulling straight up to the residence,” he testified under questioning from Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Cillo.
Reinheimer told Betleski he pulled the Dodge Durango he was driving into the driveway of the house in a defensive style in order to give cover to other officers in case of danger.
He said when they arrived, they attempted to enter through a side door, but were unable because it was locked. He said he tried to kick it in, but that also was unsuccessful.
The officers eventually entered the residence through an unlocked back door, he testified.
Reinheimer said he did not make note of the barking dogs present on scene, having belonged to the Simkos for protection.
After reviewing the dashcam footage of their arrival, it became clear they were barking loudly, Reinheimer said.
He told Cillo, his focus was on the house and the area around it rather than any dogs barking.
“We were more worried about a possible shooter in the residence or in the vicinity since someone had already been shot,” Reinheimer testified. “Officer safety was paramount at that time.”
Upon entering the home, Reinheimer testified he located the .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver prosecutors have identified as the murder weapon just inside the back door, which leads to a kitchen.
He testified he emptied the weapon of five live rounds and one spent casing still loaded in the cylinder, placed them in a nearby shoe and put the gun in the back of his waistband near his lower back.
Defense attorney Jack Bradley, asked Reinheimer whether doing so could have corrupted any physical evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA, which may have been identified on the weapon.
According to Reinheimer, in that situation, the safety of his officers and himself trumped the possibility of tainting evidence.
Under Bradley’s crossexamination, Reinheimer also testified that a short time after EMS arrived to treat Jeremy Simko, the Vermilion Fire Department came on scene and attempted to enter the bedroom.
Reinheimer said he stopped them at the stairs and forced them to leave.
The trial is set to resume at 9 a.m., Sept. 20.