LORAIN — A warrant has been issued for a man police say abandoned his three dogs at a West 21st Street home last week.

James Eucker, 42, will be charged with abandoning animals, cruelty to animals-dog at large and not having tags for the dogs, according to police.

Police were called to the home after a neighbor became concerned for the well-being of the dogs, one of which escaped past a backyard fence and was roaming the neighborhood.

That dog was spotted by an officer as he was conducting an investigation Sunday night leaving an open shed in the driveway of the home and walking toward the officer. The dog was malnourished, according to a report of the incident, and had bleeding sores on both of its ears.

Police said another dog was spotted in the backyard and another inside the home in the kitchen with a window open. Dog feces and urine were on the floor and a foul odor was coming from the home, according to police. Neighbors said Eucker left the home at least a week ago.

AVON — The Annual Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival kicks off today at Veterans Memorial Park on Detroit Road.

Heather Fox of ShurTech Brands in Avon loads Duck Brand duct tape Thursday in the sales tent for the Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival at Veterans Memorial Park. The festival opens at 4 p.m. today and continues through Sunday. (CT photo by Steve Manheim.)

Gates open at 4 p.m. Magician Bobby Maverick, Disney Radio and the Joy Unspeakable living statue will be featured. Cleveland’s Breakfast Club, a local rock band, will hit the main stage at 8 p.m.

The festival will be a weekend-long affair running 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Saturday will kick off with a parade from Avon High School to the festival grounds and will feature duct tape enthusiast and Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan on the main stage at 1:30 p.m.

Among traditional festival games, rides, food and live entertainment and other activities.

The festival, in its seventh year, celebrates “duct tape, its enthusiasts and its wacky and fun uses” as well as serves to honor the history and heritage of Avon, the home of Duck brand duct tape.

Admission is free, and the festival is handicapped accessible.

Applegate

LORAIN — A man had part of his ear bitten off in a fight in the 2300 block of Lexington Avenue around 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to a police report.

The accused biter, Aaron B. Applegate, 32, of the 900 block of West 11th Street, was arrested and charged with felonious assault and public indecency. The fight began over Applegate urinating in the presence of a 3-year-old girl, which offended her mother, Jessica L. Bruce, according to the report.

Applegate had visited Bruce’s home over her objections, the report said.

Bruce and her friend, Nathan A. Chandler, yelled at Applegate, triggering a fight between Applegate and Chandler. Applegate was caught by police after running from the scene, the report said.

Applegate said he fought in self-defense and denied urinating in public. Applegate was being held Thursday morning at the Lorain County Jail in lieu of a $54,000 bond and is due in Lorain Municipal Court on Wednesday.

The suspect, who was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound, has been identified as Delbert E. Sheppard Jr., 26, of Elyria. See tomorrow’s Chronicle for more details about the incident.

EARLIER:

A 1:44 p.m. call out over the scanner says the suspect was captured. An ambulance has been called to a Darrow Road address.

EARLIER:
Law enforcement officials are swarming the Darrow Road area, assuming that the man has traveled that way from Route 60.

It is assumed he is still armed with a long-barreled weapon.

EARLIER STORY:

FLORENCE TWP. — Law enforcement is searching for a man who pulled a long-barreled revolver on an Ohio Highway Patrol trooper who had stopped to assist the man on the Ohio Turnpike.

Lorain County Sheriff’s Capt. James Drozdowski said the man’s vehicle was disabled and as the trooper stopped the man pulled the gun and fled.

He is described as a white male in his 20s wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Drozdowski said the gunman is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who spots him should call 911 immediately.

He said the man is believed to be in Florence Township east of Angling Road and south of the Turnpike.

Check back at www.chroniclet.com for more on this story.