New Philadelphia, Ohio — A Stark County man wanted on felony warrants is in custody after police say he disarmed an officer and fired a round during a struggle Wednesday morning.
Officers were initially dispatched to a welfare check after callers reported a man lying against a tree in a wooded area.
Police located the man and began attempting to identify him. Investigators say he initially provided false information, taking the officers’ time to confirm that the subject was a 25-year-old Stark County resident wanted on two active felony warrants and carrying a violent offender designation.
When officers attempted to take him into custody, police said the suspect fled on foot into the wooded area behind the location.
Officers chased him down and tackled him.
During the struggle, the suspect gained control of an officer’s handgun, removed it from the holster, and fired one round. Police also reported the suspect made a threatening statement during the incident, saying, “I am going to keep shooting.”
Officers were able to quickly regain control of the weapon and take the suspect into custody without anyone being struck by gunfire. Officials confirmed no officers were injured.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Treat welfare checks as unknown-risk contacts until the subject is identified and hands are clearly controlled.
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If identification is unclear or inconsistent, consider it non-compliant and exercise appropriate caution.
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During hands-on arrests, prioritize control of the dominant hand and hip positioning to protect the holstered weapon side.
- In this incident, the suspect went to the ground and continued to face towards officers. This is a defiant action and not compliance.
- Every officer should have and train with retention holsters.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
