American Recycler, September 2010 | Three indicted on scrap tire charges

The Franklin County Grand Jury, Ohio, has indicted three men on illegal scrap tire hauling and dumping charges. All charges are unclassified felonies and each count has a maximum penalty of 4 years in jail and $25,000 in fines.

Rickey Hess of Utica, Ohio, faces four counts of illegal transportation of scrap tires and four counts of open dumping. Members of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s (SWACO) Environmental Crimes Task Force of Central Ohio report they caught Hess on April 1, 2010 in the act of dumping scrap tires behind the Bob Sumerel Tires store. Further investigation found other incidents in the same location during the month of March. In all, the Task Force believes Hess dumped 150 to 200 used tires that he could not sell at his used tire store in Utica.

Rodney Hall of Columbus, Ohio, faces four counts of illegal transportation of scrap tires and one count of open dumping. Hall was arrested by Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies after a low speed chase in icy and snowy conditions. At the time, his pickup truck was overflowing with scrap tires. Deputies also reported Hall was caught on surveillance cameras dumping tires behind an apartment complex in Columbus in September 2009. On September 5, 2009, a witness reported seeing Hall dump tires at another location in Columbus. On October 20, 2009, Franklin Township Police again caught Hall illegally transporting dozens of scrap tires before he could dispose of them.

Stephen A. Green of Gahanna, Ohio, was stopped by the task force on September 11, 2009 for illegally hauling tires in Columbus. Green had a previous history of illegal dumping of scrap tires which resulted in a 2008 court order prohibiting him from hauling tires.

The Environmental Crimes Task Force of Central Ohio is funded by SWACO and consists of deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, a prosecutor from the Franklin County, representatives from the Franklin County Health Department and an employee of the Columbus Public Service Department.