First Place, Spot News over 100,000 - Dale Omori / The Plain DealerTwo-year-old Jermel Griffith rests in arms of his dad, Greg Potter, at the scene on E. 105th in Cleveland as his grandmother gives a hug of thanks to a Cleveland police officer. The car Jermel was riding in was taken by his 14-year-old cousin. Police issued an Amber alert in search of the two kids and the car. Police stopped the car and arrested the cousin and reunited Jermel with his family.
Second Place, Spot News over 100,000 - Neal C. Lauron / The Columbus DispatchJohn Timmons of Lockbourne reacts as firefighters from Harrison, Scioto and Jackson Townships put the fire out of his home, October 7, 2004. Timmons threw ashes from his wood burning stove on to the grass and went into his home to take a nap, the ash caught the grass on fire, his house and was fully engulfed by flames before he realized and escaped with the clothes on his back and shoeless. He had no fire insurance and farms the area.
Third Place, Spot News over 100,000 - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerCleveland firefighter Bill Lestock with station 20 vents the roof of a duplex from inside the home at 3424 W. 50th Street in Cleveland where an upstairs fire destroyed the top of the duplex October 20, 2004. The cause of the fire is under investigation and no one was reported injured in the fire.
Award of Excellence, Spot News over 100,000 - Jame D. DeCamp / The Columbus DispatchColumbus Police Officers (left) wrestle with a student involved in a fight as others involved run for cover outside Independence High School, January 13, 2004. Several fights broke out following the basketball game against rival Walnut Ridge and there was also a report of a car hit by gun fire. The light from above is from the CPD chopper.
