Five Patrol employees honored for rescue of two-year-old kidnapping victim

Five Patrol employees honored for rescue of two-year-old kidnapping victim
March 20, 2009


TOLEDO– Four troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Swanton Post and a Patrol dispatcher from the Berea District Headquarters were honored today for their skilled handling of an emergency notification that ultimately led to the rescue of a two-year-old kidnapping victim on October 28, 2008, on the Ohio turnpike in LucasCounty.

Tpr. Rodney Bingman, Tpr. Jason Lankey, Tpr. Brian Foltz, Tpr. Brock Matthews and Dispatcher Linda Magrey were presented Certificates of Recognition today by Colonel Richard H. Collins, Patrol superintendent for their professionalism in apprehending three kidnapping suspects and rescuing a small child.


On October 28, Disp. Magrey received information that a vehicle involved in the abduction of a child had entered the Ohio Turnpike eastbound from Indiana. She immediately provided a description of the vehicle to troopers working that area, while other law enforcement authorities tracked the vehicle electronically through the suspect’s cell phone.

Tpr. Lankey located the vehicle near the Maumee interchange and initiated a felony traffic stop with the assistance of Tpr. Bingham, Trp. Foltz and Tpr. Matthews. The troopers took three suspects into custody without incident and the child was rescued unharmed. Subsequent investigation revealed that one of the suspects, the victim’s father, had made arrangements to leave the country with the young child. Due to the efforts of these five Patrol employees, the child was reunited with her mother and family and returned to her home in Illinois.

Disp. Magrey joined the Patrol in May 1987 and has served at the Berea District Headquarters and the Elyia Post throughout her career. She was named Berea District Headquarters Dispatcher of the Year by her peers in 2005 and 2006. Originally of Brook Park, she currently resides in Berea.

Tpr. Jason Lankey joined the Patrol in June 1999 as a member of the 134th Academy Class. He earned his commission in December of that year and has served at the Swanton Post throughout his career. He currently resides in his hometown of Maumee with his wife, Kathryn and their three children.

Tpr. Brian Foltz joined the Patrol in October 1998 as a member of the 132nd Academy Class. He earned his commission in April 1999 and has served at the former Eaton Post, and the Delaware, Granville and Swanton Posts. He earned the prestigious Superintendent’s Citation of Merit award in August 2004 for saving a women’s life by pulling her out of a burning car after a fiery crash. Tpr. Foltz has also been awarded an Ace Award and the esteemed Blue Max Award in 2002 for excellence in auto larceny enforcement. Originally of Westerville, Tpr. Foltz currently resides in Archbold with his wife, Carleen.

Tpr. Brock Matthews joined the Patrol in March 2001 as a member of the 137th Academy Class. He earned his commission in September of that year and has served at the Defiance and Swanton Posts throughout his career. He currently lives in LibertyCenter with his wife, Tami and their two sons.

Tpr. Rodney Bingman joined the Patrol in October 1998 as a member of the 132nd Academy Class. He earned his commission in April 1999 and has served at the Defiance, Toledo and Swanton Posts throughout his career. He currently resides in his hometown of Fayette with his wife, Robyn, and their two children.