No charges filed in restaurateurs' building departure

FOSTORIA — Criminal charges are not being filed in regard to the circumstances surrounding the Daddy and Kay's Pizza and Cheesecakes restaurant closure at 112 W. Tiffin St., in Fostoria.City Law Director Stephanie Kiser and Assistant Prosecutor Barbara Dibble said Thursday morning that criminal evidence was not found in the information provided through an investigation by the Fostoria Police Division."After reviewing all of the information, it was determined that this is a civil matter and criminal charges will not be pursued at this time," Kiser said in an email.The case became a topic of conversation in Fostoria, mainly via the internet, after posts made by an online media organization regarding the restaurant, which opened in 2024 under the operation of EJ Harrison and Patricia "Kay" Julian. Online posts say Harrison "allegedly" took equipment that didn't belong to him and left considerable damage to the building in the wake of the restaurant's closure. The posts do not attribute the allegations or "witness" accounts to specific individuals.Reports are on file with the Fostoria Police Division naming the building's owner, Mike Aurand, as the complainant. Initial reports refer to Harrison and Julian as "mentioned" or "involved." The final report, released Wednesday, attributes allegations to Aurand, with contradictory statements coming from Harrison and Julian. Jared Lindig was the reporting officer. Contacted by phone Wednesday, Aurand declined to comment. While people took sides online, Harrison and Julian maintained their innocence through recent weeks via Facebook posts, and they reiterated those assertions in conversations on Wednesday."There, literally, is no valid proof that we did anything," Julian said, noting that she and Harrison left the building on Sept. 30, at the end of their lease, after they could not agree on a new agreement with Aurand."We tried," Harrison said. "We really liked that building. We put a lot of money into that building."Harrison spoke while seated at 381 Perry St., where Red's Pizza formerly operated before closing in October 2024. Harrison said he and Julian will soon reopen Red's, the building for which is owned by Terri Hosman. "I worked at Red's from (ages) 14 to 21," he said with a smile. "I started when they were at the Tiffin Street location and then I moved over here with them and stayed here for a while. ... This is kind of coming around full circle. Without this place, there wouldn't have been a Daddy and Kay's or anything."Harrison acknowledged that he and Julian will look to reopen Daddy and Kay's at a new location. He also expressed appreciation for the people who have supported him and Julian.