KILLINGS LINKED TO PAINESVILLE DRUG WOES

PAINESVILLE - While city police were testifying yesterday about one
drug-related homicide, police were charging three people with another
killing apparently linked to narcotics.

Arraigned yesterday in Painesville Municipal Court in the death of James J.
Beres were: Shawn A. Hall, 29, of Lakeland Blvd., Euclid, charged with
aggravated murder and kidnapping; and Isiah J. Johnson, 43, of Prospect
St., Painesville, and Rhonda C. Head, 31, of Liberty St., Painesville, both
charged with complicity to murder and complicity to kidnapping. All three
were in Lake County Jail yesterday on bonds of up to $500,000.

The body of Beres, 44, formerly of Concord Township, was discovered June 29
on Stokes Blvd. in Cleveland by off-duty crime scene officer David Stokes,
who was walking his dog in Ambler Park, Cleveland police spokeswoman Lt.
Sharon MacKay said. She said Stokes found the body under a blanket at 5:40
p.m. and called his on-duty colleagues to the scene.

Investigators used dental records to identify Beres' decomposed body.
Police said Beres was killed in Painesville possibly June 25 or June 26 and
that his body was dumped later.

Painesville police Sgt. Dave Luhta said Beres was killed in an outdoor area
in Painesville. He would not disclose the exact location.

Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj said Beres died of blows to his
chest that aggravated a serious heart condition. She ruled the death a
homicide.

Luhta said police were still doing interviews and may charge a fourth person.

"It appears to be a drug-related killing," Luhta said. "He apparently
stiffed somebody on a bad deal over crack. We are still sorting out the
stories."

Luhta said police received an anonymous tip Saturday that Beres was killed
over a drug deal. He said Beres once lived in Painesville and was
acquainted with the trio charged in his death.

Police were also testifying this week in Lake County Common Pleas Court in
an aggravated murder trial that stems from drug crime. In that case, Jason
Ferguson of Painesville is charged with the fatal shooting in February of
Charles Smith, who police said was a Cleveland drug dealer.

Prosecutors said Smith was fatally shot over a dice game debt and because
he started dating Ferguson's girlfriend. Ferguson's lawyers say Smith was a
flashy dealer who was killed by jealous local drug dealers. The trial is
expected to last another day or two.

The murders are just two of many cases from Painesville involving drugs.
Luhta said the city has a serious drug problem.

"The crack problem in Painesville is pervasive," Luhta said. "It is very
frustrating to see this loss of life because it is so senseless. If so many
people weren't hooked on crack, we wouldn't have these killings."