Procedural faux pas causes panic in Norwalk

NORWALK — A poorly-executed court order resulted in chaos on Main Street Tuesday, after the Common Pleas Court arraignment of Barbara Biller, charged in the vehicular homicide of a toddler two years ago. Screaming and panic erupted after a Huron County Child Support Agency worker, standing next to a Child Protective Services worker, tried to administer a court-ordered DNA test to the youngest sibling of the victim, as the victim's mother exited the courtroom. According to Huron County Sheriff Lt. Ted Evans, the worker said something to the effect of, "I'm going to take …" regarding Elsia Joy Dixon, as her mother, Cassondra Dixon, carried her out of the courtroom. The move, which occurred in the emotionally-charged atmosphere following a demonstration by the deceased child's family, was not made known in advance to the approximately 10 deputies who attended the court proceeding, Evans said. Fearing that members of Huron County Child Protective Services had come to remove the child from her custody, Cassondra Dixon and other members of the family ran onto Main Street, followed directly on by deputies. After quickly containing and de-escalating the situation, deputies were able to accompany the child, her mother and select family members into an empty courtroom, where deputies assisted with obtaining the DNA sample. "It was a huge misunderstanding," said Evans, noting that after everyone involved calmed when the situation was explained. "Everyone was cooperative," he said. Twenty-two family members of the family of Melanie Joy Lopez, a 3-year-old killed July 21, 2020, in a hit-and-run incident had gathered in front of the Huron County Courthouse to demonstrate an hour before the legal proceeding. Wearing matching pink shirts, and carrying signs, the family had gathered to encourage a just outcome and observe. "I hope my daughter gets the justice that she deserves," the mother had said before entering the courthouse. A tearful Rhea Dixon, Melanie's grandmother, had recalled the child's request for Rolos candies, the day before her death; a request that went tragically unfilled. "It's been a hard road," Rhea Dixon said of the last two years. During the arraignment, Biller entered, through her attorney, Douglas Clifford, pleas of not guilty to all four of the charges against her. She is charged with three counts of failure to stop after a non-public road accident, one a third-degree felony, one a fourth-degree felony and the last a first-degree misdemeanor. Biller also faces a first-degree misdemeanor charge of vehicular homicide. Judge James W. Conway imposed a $100,000 unsecured bond on Biller, with her personal recognizance. He also suspended her driving privileges until the case is resolved. Conway scheduled Biller's pretrial hearing for 1 pm, Aug. 22 and her final pretrial for 1 pm, Sept. 20. The charges stem from an incident on July 21, 2020, when an unidentified motorist drove through the Norwalk Mobile Home Park on Jefferson Street and struck Lopez, who was playing outside, before leaving the scene. The case report was turned over to Norwalk law director Stuart O'Hara in early August 2021 and an indictment handed down by the Huron County Grand Jury on July 15.