Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announces Indictment of Defendant Darnell Anthony Dyson on multiple charges related to the dumping of nails on public roadways

Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers announced the indictment of Darnell Anthony Dyson (DOB 7/30/79) for multiple charges relating to the intentional dumping nails onto public roadways with purpose to damage property.

Dyson was indicted on three counts of Vandalism (Felony of the 5^th Degree) and one count of Criminal Damaging or Endangering (Misdemeanor of the 2^nd Degree). If convicted of all charges, Cowen faces a maximum possible sentence of 3 years in prison and forfeiture of his motor vehicle.

Beginning in 2021 police officers in the Springdale, Sharonville and West Chester areas began receiving numerous complaints from residents and motorists regarding tire damage to vehicles being caused by nails in the roadway. Investigation revealed that the overwhelming majority of these nails were 5/8-inch concrete tack strip nails, which are commonly used in the flooring business. Officers developed Dyson as a suspect due to his work in the flooring business and purchases of excessive amounts of these same 5/8-inch concrete tack strip nails.

In March of 2024 Springdale Police, with cooperation from a local business that sold nails frequently to Dyson, were able to mark nails from the store with a specific substance that applied clear but could be revealed under an ultraviolet light. The nails were repackaged and sold to Dyson. Within days of the sale, nails bearing the ultraviolet marking were recovered from two separate intersections in Springdale. Similar nails bearing the same ultraviolet marking were discovered in Sharonville and West Chester. Subsequent search of Dyson’s vehicle revealed additional bags of nails as well as loose nails throughout all parts of the cabin.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers commented: “I want to thank the Springdale Police Department for their outstanding and creative investigation that resulted in this arrest. This was a senseless and cruel act repeated over a course of years. During that time, this defendant put thousands of motorists at risk and ruined untold numbers of tires.

When I think of the people hurt most by this — people who might not be able to miss a shift at work due to a flat tire or who do not have the extra money to spend on an unexpected car repair — it makes me furious. This defendant deserves every consequence the justice system can offer.”