Man wanted for murder arrested in Monroeville

MONROEVILLE — Always on the lookout. Monroeville Police Officer Nick Meyer conducted a traffic stop for a speeding violation Wednesday night. The subject was from Michigan and upon running his personal information through the national law enforcement computer system (LEADS), it was found that the subject was wanted for murder with a firearm. The subject, 33-year-old Issac Harris, from Highland Park, Mich., was taken into custody without incident and transported to Huron County Jail. "That's typical of Nick," Monroeville Police Chief Gary Lyons said. "He has been a good officer for us from Day 1. He has had a number of successful stops for us." Lyons said there is a concern with every traffic stop in town. "The vast majority are just on to a destination," Lyons said. "We do know this is an alternate route for drug traffickers from the (Ohio) Turnpike. This is an alternate way going from Point A to Point B. "Our officers just know to be careful," he added. "Typically they are working by themselves. They know how to approach a vehicle with caution with their protection in mind." Lyons said it's tough to get, and then keep, good police officers like the staff he has now. "Right now we are short with four full-time officers. We are down one and we are losing a part-time officer to Avon Lake. We are in the same boat as all of the other departments," the chief said. "You see a lot of cities and villages allowing lateral transfers," he added. "That streamlines movement and makes it a quicker transfer. They get an experienced officer and we lose them. There is no way we can compete with those salaries." You get what you pay for, the chief said. "It is a wakeup call. If we are going to put the demands on the officers ... you are going to have to pay for it. In my 48 years in this business, I have never seen so much scrutiny." Lyons started in July 1975 and has been chief in Monroeville the last 12 years. "Every day there is something different happening," he said. "There is always going to be a surprise in there somewhere."