More arrests being made in EORH thefts
Public Relations Committee Chair Spencer Echemann speaks during Tuesday’s Martins Ferry City Council Meeting, reminding residents that the water usage amount for water customers outside of city limits have been reduced back to the pre-COVID amount of 2,500 gallons. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
MARTINS FERRY — A rash of thefts at the former East Ohio Regional Hospital property is beginning to lead to a rash of arrests, Martins Ferry Police Chief Vince West reported.
West told city council during its regular meeting Wednesday that two more men were arrested at the EORH site just minutes before the meeting began.
“In regards to the hospital, we actually got a guy last week and right before this meeting we actually caught two more,” West said.
Neither man was identified by name but West said charges were pending but delayed when one of the men experienced a medical emergency at the site and he was transported to an area hospital.
Councilman Gus Harris said he was the one who called in the suspicious activity that led to the latest arrests at the property.
“We appreciate the tip. The last arrest made there also came from a tip,” West said. “It’s hard to patrol the whole town. We do appreciate all the tips we can get.”
The former East Ohio Regional Hospital property has been the site of multiple break-ins and thefts since the facility closed last spring.
In one recent incident, Martins Ferry police responded to a report of a suspicious man walking near the rear of the building at 90 N. Fourth St. Officers found a forced-open gate and an open basement door and located a suspect inside the building attempting to hide.
Police recovered a large amount of cut copper wiring valued at thousands of dollars, along with several bags containing saws, drills, bolt cutters and other tools allegedly used to remove the wiring.
Albert Hazlett of Akron was arrested and transported to the Belmont County Jail on charges including theft, criminal trespass, breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools and vandalism.
Two juveniles were also arrested last month after they were found with two-way radios and iPads taken from the hospital.
Authorities have said suspects have repeatedly entered the building and stripped copper wiring and other materials from the structure. Officers have also found evidence that people had been sleeping inside the building.
The large hospital complex has proven difficult to secure because of the many potential points of entry. City officials have said the uncertain ownership status of the hospital has complicated efforts to address the situation, with portions of the property tied up in bankruptcy proceedings.
The hospital was purchased in 2020 and reopened in 2021 by Dr. John Johnson. In June, 360 Healthcare Inc. purchased the facility. Although the hospital reopened at the beginning of 2025, it closed again by spring amid ongoing financial and legal issues, leaving the property vacant.
West also updated council on another recent drug arrest that, like the hospital arrests, followed tips from residents.
“Last week, we executed another search warrant and ended up with a lot more on this one than we did before so we are trying to clean-up,” he said.
Kylil Bass, 28, was charged with drug trafficking, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia following the search. The search was conducted by officers from the Martins Ferry and Bridgeport police departments, along with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, and yielded drugs as well as packaging and distribution supplies.
Three arrests were also made last month following a search warrant at a Clinton Street residence where methamphetamine, used needles and other drug-use implements were found. Mark Kinkus, Michael Kurtley and Reed Morrow were arrested on drug-related charges.
In other matters, Public Relations Committee Chair Spencer Echemann reminded council that the maximum water usage allowance for customers outside the city limits will decrease from 4,000 gallons to 2,500 gallons beginning with the next billing cycle.
The city said the adjustment does not increase the cost of water and that all water rates will remain the same. Customers who exceed the 2,500-gallon limit will be billed at the same overage rate.
The previous 4,000-gallon allowance had been introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a temporary measure to support residents facing layoffs, financial strain and extended periods at home. With conditions stabilized and usage patterns returning to normal, the city is returning to the standard 2,500-gallon allowance used prior to the pandemic.
“This is the same way it was in 2019 before COVID hit and we are just going back to that,” Echemann said.
City Services Director Andy Sutak also encouraged residents who want to donate to the city’s annual fireworks display to contact the city. Council moved the display to Friday, July 3 this year as a more affordable option with prices increasing ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Council passed a motion that changed meeting times from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning with the next meeting, which was moved to March 25 to accommodate a request from Fiscal Officer Jack Regis.






