Ottawa man indicted on attempted murder

NEW LONDON — An Ottawa man is facing an attempted murder indictment regarding an incident in April. Trevor R. Casto, 27, of the 1200 block of N. Defiance St., is charged with one count each of attempted murder, attempted voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault. Just after 5:30 p.m. on April 24, New London officers were called to the 100 block of W. Main St., for the report of a man with a gun. Before arriving, one officer was flagged down by a man who said another man had fought with and pulled a gun on him. The officer directed that man to an EMS station and then continued to the incident scene. A witness told officers that she was speaking with her partner when Casto, the father of her child, drove near the car they were in, according to a New London police report. Casto reportedly parked and then exited his car before running toward the victim's car. The victim told officers that Casto had a rifle, which he pointed at the victim while threatening to kill the victim, the report states. At some point, Casto was disarmed and then he and the victim fought. Each claimed the other threatened to kill them, according to the report. The firearm was located in a witness' vehicle. An officer seized the weapon and made it safe before securing it in his cruiser. Casto eventually exited a nearby residence and told officers he arrived to drop off his son. He claimed the victim charged him and Casto defended himself. The officer noticed red marks and scrapes on Casto's knuckles and knees and requested EMS to the scene to evaluate him. After investigating the incident, it was decided that Casto would be charged with aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor. The victim later went to the New London police station and advised an officer that he had discovered a bullet hole in his car. The officer noted that the hole was consistent with the caliber of weapon seized earlier at the scene, the report states. After conferring with the law director, it was determined that Casto would be additionally charged with attempted voluntary manslaughter. Because Casto had already posted bond and was released, officers returned to the Shadyside residence, where witnesses told them that Casto was picked up by his father and taken to a home in Ottawa. A Huron County deputy told the witness that video surveillance at the jail showed she was the one who picked Casto up. She then admitted she did pick him up, but drove him to a fast food restaurant where he transferred to his father's car, the report states. She told officers that the victim had a handgun during the incident. She claimed that she disarmed both men and placed the victim's gun back in his car. Casto was arrested in May and posted a $100,000 bond. He was indicted by a Huron County grand jury on June 6. He is represented by attorney John Toth. Casto has an arraignment in Huron County Common Pleas Court at 1 p.m. on June 30.