Sheila McLaughlin Enquirer staff writer

Mason officer wanted in break-in, domestic dispute
MASON - A city police officer faces charges of burglary and assault in an alleged domestic dispute with a female colleague over the weekend.

Hamilton Township police on Monday were still looking for Paul Collins, 32, of Mason.

Authorities issued warrants for Collins' arrest after they said he broke down the door of a township residence on Appaloosa Circle about 2:50 a.m. Saturday and assaulted fellow Mason police officer Melissa Campbell, who was staying there with a friend.

Collins was gone by the time police arrived and efforts to find him have been unsuccessful, Lt. Jeff Braley said.

Collins, a seven-year member of the department, was placed on unpaid leave from his job Monday. He intends to turn himself in, his attorney, Charles Rittgers, said Monday.

Rittgers contends the allegations against Collins are overblown.

"If anything happened that night, he's been overcharged," Rittgers said.

Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel defended the charges against Collins, even though she said Campbell was reluctant to have him arrested. Campbell told police the relationship between the two had gone sour.

"He broke into the friend's residence and assaulted (Campbell)," Hutzel said. "We don't care who he is."

Melissa Hopkins, who lives at the Appaloosa Circle residence, told Warren County dispatchers Collins had been drinking and was shoving Campbell.

"He's going crazy in my bedroom," Hopkins said in the second of two calls to 911. She kept asking police to hurry.

Collins, who is assigned to road patrol and was recently divorced, had no history of disciplinary problems on the job, Mason Assistant Police Chief Steve Schuchart said.

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