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Local Bars, Law Enforcement Fund New Tool for Sexual Assault Investigations
By: WOUB Staff Writer
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Six Athens bars have joined with local law enforcement in the fight to find sexual assault suspects.
According to a press release from Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital asked for his office’s help in raising funds for a Cortexflo machine, a photo and video system “to assist in forensic medical examination of sexual assault victims.”
The office was able to collect more than $9,000 toward the cost of the machine, which has not been confirmed by the hospital.
Blackburn said money was collected from businesses including Broney’s, Courtside, J Bar, The C.I., The Crystal, Stephen’s On Court, EBS Center, Ohio Realty, and Cornwell Jewelers. Ohio University’s Office of Student Affairs has pledged $1,500 and the Athens County Bar Association donated $2,500.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office donated $150, The Athens Police Department and Ohio University Police Department both pledged to give $500 each, and the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office gave $1,000.
The machine, which is fitted with a digital SLR camera and an LED light right on an adjustable arm. It can take video and annotate injury notes at the time of report, according to the Cortexflo website.
“We are committed to reducing sexual assaults and a Cortexflo Machine will assist in identifying, prosecuting and incarcerating rapists,” Blackburn wrote in the release.
A spokesperson for the hospital was unavailable for comment on Thursday.