Love was in the vehicle on March 31st with Dante Tate and Emin Johnson, which was part of the chase down I-75 where Officer Francis was struck and killed while deploying stop sticks to disable the vehicle they had stolen. Johnson, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, has his trial set for April of 2023. Tate has a trial date scheduled for March of 2023.
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Emin Johnson will have his trial take place on April 24th of 2023. A final pre-trial is also scheduled for March 3rd of 2023. Johnson was indicted back in April on ten counts, including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, receiving stolen property, and having weapons under disability. He is believed to have been the driver that fatally struck Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis. Zachary Love and Dante Tate are the other two who were indicted in the case.
19-year-old Dante Tate appeared for a pre-trial. He's accused of being in the car that struck and killed Bluffton Officer Dominic Francis back in March of 2022. Tate is facing two counts each of receiving stolen property, improper handling of a firearm, and grand theft of a motor vehicle, as well as one count of complicity to receiving stolen property.
Dante Tate, one of the men charged with the death of Officer Dominic Francis gets sentenced to 2 years in prison in Medina County. The charges were from what happened after Officer Francis death on I75.
Emin Johnson appeared in court where his lawyer and the state went over documents that are not available yet in his case. The state explained that the DNA report, as well as the crash incident report, have not been finalized and released to both parties, further stating that it could take more than a week to get the necessary documents to have the case proceed. Johnson's lawyer also shared that a plea offer has not yet been made to his client and that they intend to sign a speedy trial waiver to help the court.
Dante Tate was charged with failure to comply with an order of a signal officer and receiving stolen property. He will be sentenced in August on the charges. In March, police say that Tate, Emin Johnson, and Zachary Love were in the vehicle that killed officer Francis while he was deploying stop sticks to disable their car.
No trial date has been set for the three men charged with the death of Officer Dominic Francis. Emin Johnson, Zachary Love, and Dante Tate are all in jail awaiting their next court appearance. A list of evidence was filed with the Hancock Common Pleas Court that could be used during their trial. Some of the evidence includes DNA testing of the two vehicles, including the steering wheel, that were used during the crime. There is also DNA testing from the weapons that were found after their arrest. Plus, a toxicology report for Johnson who law enforcement believe was driving when Francis was struck and killed while he was deploying a stop stick on I-75 during a police chase. They are all facing a variety of charges some including improper handling of firearms in a vehicle and receiving stolen property. Johnson is facing additional charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide.
Law enforcement says Tate stole a car from a home in the Bluffton area and drove it east where he was finally arrested in Medina County. Tate is also facing complicity in receiving stolen property, improper handling of firearms in a vehicle, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property in Hancock County. He will not be brought back to Hancock County to face those charges until his case in Medina is closed.
The three men alleged in the death of a Bluffton police officer have been indicted, according to court documents.
20-year-old Emin Johnson will have a preliminary hearing Friday in Findlay Municipal Court, he is facing the charges of involuntary manslaughter, failure to comply with a signal officer, and receiving stolen property. 21-year-old Zachary Love will also have a hearing in Findlay Municipal Court on Friday. He is charged with having weapons under disability and receiving stolen property.