Making Leads

    How to make information into a lead.

   Homicide. Husband shot four times in apartment. Yesterday. Suspect said she was driven to the brink of insanity by his constant beatings. She had asked neighbors for help earlier in the day. Reported to police she was afraid of him. Erie Police Department provided information. She showed visible signs of a beating: swollen jaw and black eye. Victim's name is Harold Ray Erman. "He beat me near to death last night, and I just couldn't let him have at me again," quote from wife. Address of apartment is 4747 Pine Ave. Police took 25-cal., Ivers & Johnson, semi-automatic pistol out of her hand when they arrested her. She calls police. Her name is Josephine Erman, 38. Harold died about 6:15 p.m. at UPMC Hamot Medical Center. Victim suffered wounds to throat, trunk, neck and abdomen. Shot at close range as he slept. He was 47. Had been arrested on complaints of assault three times previous.

   On Sunday evening on Pine Ave. a woman shot her husband repeatedly while he slept, claiming she was driven to insanity by his beatings.

   Robbery. McDonald’s. Got away with about $75. Witnesses heard four shots fired. On upper Peach Street in the Summit Towne Plaza. Robber crawled through drive-through window and forced lone attendant to open cash register. Information comes from Millcreek Police Sgt. Caleb Winthrow. One death. Shot twice. Victim's name is Hashim M. Hashim. Pronounced dead at the scene. Happened about 10 p.m. No arrests have been made. One witness at scene. Happened Monday. Victim's address is 32 Crest Road in Erie.

   A McDonald’s attendant was killed during a robbery late Monday night on upper Peach Street in the Summit Towne Plaza, attributed a Millcreek Police Sgt.

      Speech reaction. Penn State Behrend Chancellor Don Birx speaks to Erie Rotary Club. Says future of area colleges depends on increased support from the business community. "You must be willing to invest in the education of America now, or you will pay dearly later," Birx said. Audience of about 125. Audience did not like what he was saying. Asked very tough questions after the talk and did not applaud during the speech. Gave speech at noon on Monday. Some in audience were clearly angry. One man walked out. "I pay my employees good, fair wages. Why should I begin paying someone who won't even work for me when they're 18," said John Hibberben, owner of S&W Food Wholesalers.

 A speech given by Penn State Behrend Chancellor Don Birx turned sour Monday when the audience of the Erie Rotary Club reacted badly to what Birx had to say.