At about 5 p.m., I made my way up to North Toledo -- really just a hop and a skip from The Blade's downtown office -- for a reported structure fire.
The fire at Buffalo and North Erie wasn't a big one. When I got there there were no flames visible from the outside and there was only light smoke seeping from the top floor.
*Note: this photo has been edited with Instagram
What's interesting, to me, is the location, 632 Buffalo.
In 2005, Jessie Coleman was found beaten and stabbed to death inside his apartment, which was on the second floor of this building.
Two men, Rodney Bunce and Jeremy Hinds, were eventually indicted in 2007 for the murder. In 2008, Bunce was found guilty and is incarcerated at the Toledo Correctional Institution, serving 20 years to life. I have no information on Hinds, although I read in an old Blade store that when the two were initially charged, Hinds was in a Florida prison for a parole violation.
Bunce
In 2011, Daniel and Lisa Bunce sold the Buffalo property for $1,792.59. The property is now owned by Timothy Whitaker, of Toledo. Built in 1877, the property is valued at $27,500, according to Lucas County Auditor records. It appears that taxes were last paid on the property, which is vacant, in June 2011.
