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Middletown police chief wants justice for shooting victim

1,944 views · Published 9 January 2017 · 2:56 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2017 · News & Politics

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MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WKRC) - Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw took to Facebook for an update on the fatal car crash and the fatal shooting from New Year's Eve. Despite the weekend events, Chief Muterspaw told the people of Middletown, "You are safe".

Chief Muterspaw wanted to make sure everyone knew that the shooting did not occur in the 513 Lounge, the problems stemmed from an overflow parking lot. Muterspaw says the bar has been very cooperative with police.

Muterspaw says the bar had hired off-duty officers to work that lot. One of the detectives heard 6-8 gunshots and went outside and saw a group walking to the car. He noticed something was not right and told them to stop but they did not. They got into a car, which backed over a curb and took off. A nearby cruiser tried to keep up but could not. The car crashed into the wall at St. John's Church. The passenger, Mariana-Maria Richlen, was killed and Muterspaw says the driver is not in good shape. Three guns thrown from the car have been recovered. He says OSP is investigating that incident.

The chief also addressed the shooting at Roosevelt and Wicoff. He said Teresa Shields was killed but she didn't deserve to die. He says she deserves justice. "She gets gunned down after leaving a New Year's Eve party all because somebody wants to be a tough guy and start firing a gun from their car and then flee." The driver, Steve Waldon, was also shot multiple times.

Muterspaw says a lot of the criminals aren't from Middletown. They may have Middletown ties, he says, but they're from Cincinnati, Dayton or Hamilton. Overall, he says, crime is down. "The city is better than ever, despite the last two months. It's a blip on the screen compared to what we've accomplished in the last two or three years and good things are happening here."

A task force is going to be out every night, attacking the problem and looking for suspects. "You're not going to be able to hide, you're not going to be able to run, we'll find you."

Officials were still looking for a white Jeep Cherokee with dark rims that may be involved. Anyone with information is urged to call the Middletown Police Department at 425-7700.

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