Death by Cop 2022-2024
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Beau Purtee
Age :23
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 05/24/2024
Location : 26795 Tracy Rd
City : Northwood
County : Wood
State : Ohio
Agency : Perrysburg Township Police Department
Officer(s) : Ross Wheatley
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during “Man with a gun” call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Perrysburg Township PD responded to a “man with a gun” call, found the man and shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.13abc.com/2024/05/24/perrysburg-twp-shoot-kill-suspect-that-allegedly-shot-them/
https://www.sent-trib.com/2024/05/30/details-released-for-fatal-perrysburg-twp-shooting/
Regina Young-Fellows 2 of 3
Age :65
Gender :Female
Race : Black
Date : 05/22/2024
Location : Mount Pleasant
City : Cleveland
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Double homicide/suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland PD arrived at a domestic violence call.For 14 hours, Cleveland PD and SWAT bore down on a residence where a suicidal man had allegedly attacked family members. The man at some point during the siege killed 2 family members and committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2024/05/22/two-people-suspect-dead-after-cleveland-standoff/
Norris Richardson 1 of 3
Age :57
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/22/2024
Location : Mount Pleasant
City : Cleveland
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Double homicide/suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland PD arrived at a domestic violence call.For 14 hours, Cleveland PD and SWAT bore down on a residence where a suicidal man had allegedly attacked family members. The man at some point during the siege killed 2 family members and committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2024/05/22/two-people-suspect-dead-after-cleveland-standoff/
Ritchie Welch 3 of 3
Age :51
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/22/2024
Location : Mount Pleasant
City : Cleveland
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Double homicide/suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland PD arrived at a domestic violence call.For 14 hours, Cleveland PD and SWAT bore down on a residence where a suicidal man had allegedly attacked family members. The man at some point during the siege killed 2 family members and committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2024/05/22/two-people-suspect-dead-after-cleveland-standoff/
Colby Ross
Age :35
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/21/2024
Location : Third Street and U.S. Route 35
City : Perry Township
County : Montgomery
State : Ohio
Agency : Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Police chased a woman for driving without a license, escalated to risky maneuvers such as stop sticks which caused a wheel to come off, the car to spin two full 360 degree circles and hit bystander Colby Ross in his vehicle, killing him.
Ben Crump took the case and filed suit against the police department for the wrongful death of bystander Colby Ross.
SOURCE LINKS :
Rafael Warfield
Age :21
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/16/2024
Location : 6800 block of Georges Creek Drive
City : Columbus
County : Franklin
State : Ohio
Agency : Columbus Division of Police
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed during police shootout while in mental health crisis
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Columbus PD were sent to a mental health crisis call where they found Rafel Warfield to be suicidal. Police got into a shootout with him and he was killed. Police initially said he had committed suicide, then retracted the statement. It is unclear at this time whether he was killed directly by police or committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
Corey Roach
Age :50
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/11/2024
Location : 4738 McAllister Avenue
City : Columbus
County : Franklin
State : Ohio
Agency : Columbus Division of Police
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Columbus PD arrived at a domestic violence call, found a man with a rifle, got into a shootout with him and shot and killed him. Nicole Pleasant, 47, had been found shot to death at the location. She is not listed in this database as her murder apparently happened prior to police involvement.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://citizen.com/-Nxdv7Nej5cVA1zJPPFh
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/two-dead-in-east-columbus-shooting/
Deshawn Anthony Vaughn
Age :24
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/11/2024
Location : Van Aken Boulevard
City : Shaker Heights
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : US Marshals, Euclid Police Department, Cuyahoga SWAT
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed during SWAT siege
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Deshawn Anthony Vaughn shot and killed Officer Jacob Derbin of the Euclid PD. Police escalated a standoff. Vaughn was found dead. It is unclear whether he died by suicide or police bullets at this time.
SOURCE LINKS :
Blake Fleure
Age :19
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 05/11/2024
Location : West Perry and Franklin Streets
City : Tiffin
County : Seneca
State : Ohio
Agency : Seneca County Sheriff's Office, Tiffin Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Tiffin PD alerted Seneca County deputies that 19-year-old Blake Fleure was in a mental health crisis and had injured himself. Police found him, escalated a chase and cornered him. He allegedly had a knife. Police shot and killed him. The officer was cleared.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://thecourier.com/news/547598/officer-cleared-in-shooting/
Ali Hamsa Yusuf
Age :22
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/11/2024
Location : 4700 block of McAllister Avenue
City : Columbus
County : Franklin
State : Ohio
Agency : Columbus Division of Police
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Columbus PD arrived at a domestic violence call, engaged in a shootout with a man and shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/two-dead-in-east-columbus-shooting/
Jason Norris
Age :41
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 05/08/2024
Location : James Road
City : North Ridgeville
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : North Ridgeville Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
North Ridgeville PD arrived at a residence on James Road to confront a man about a previous crime. In the process, they shot and killed Jason Norris.
SOURCE LINKS :
Kendell Floyd Woodward
Age :34
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 05/02/2024
Location : I-77 near Dover
City : Dayton
County : Tuscarawas
State : Ohio
Agency : Ohio State Highway Patrol
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Driver killed during traffic stop
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Tuscarawas County deputies found a disabled vehicle on the side of I-77 near dover in Dayton and noticed the driver to be displaying bizarre behaviors. An ambulance was called as were various SWAT officers. After some pressure, the man displayed a weapon. Police shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wdtn.com/news/ohio/dayton-man-killed-in-ne-ohio-officer-involved-shooting/
Frank E. Tyson
Age :53
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 04/19/2024
Location : 1700 block of Sherrick Road Southeast
City : Canton
County : Stark
State : Ohio
Agency : Canton Police Department
Officer(s) : Beau Schoenegge, Camden Burch
Cause of Death : Unknown
Event : Died during arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Frank E. Tyson crashed his vehicle, ran from the crash site, was stopped by police and a violent arrest ensued. He died during arrest. Ben Crump representing the family likened the arrest to George Floyd and Eric Garner, stating he had been face down and telling police he could not breathe and was not helped. Crump pointed out that on bodycam, Tyson can be heard telling an officer that he cannot breathe and the officer replied: "You're fine. Shut the fuck up." As he gasps for air and repeats "I can't breathe.", one officer's knee is seen on his neck while others push him down. Tyson also asks "get off my neck." Bodycam documents 8 minutes going by before CPR was given. On August 13, 2024, it was ruled that his death was a homicide. Autopsy had shown that alcohol and cocaine were in his system and that he had died of cardiac arrest. This court case likely will focus heavily on positional asphyxiation during arrest, a common cause of death during forcible arrests when a person is held face-down for prolonged periods and cannot breathe. Frank Tyson had repeatedly told police that he could not breathe but instead of repositioning him, they told him to "shut the fuck up."
SOURCE LINKS :
Bodycam Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpYkmxuynw0
Case ruled homicide:
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2024/08/12/frank-tyson-canton-cause-of-death-what-happened/74767418007/
Santiago Elias Alfaro Munoz
Age :36
Gender :Male
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 04/19/2024
Location : 4600 block of East Main Street
City : Whitehall
County : Franklin
State : Ohio
Agency : Whitehall Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during traffic stop
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
During a traffic stop, police allegedly saw a back seat passenger with a gun. Police forced the door open and shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
Erica Allen
Age :26
Gender :Female
Race : Black
Date : 04/18/2024
Location : Not Disclosed
City : Toledo
County : Lucas
State : Ohio
Agency : Toledo Police Department, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Erica Allen was experiencing a mental health crisis, was locked into a home with 3 children and her grandmother who had a facial injury. Police allege Allen held a knife. They shot and killed her.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wtol.com/video/news/crime/512-2f5e8308-884b-4529-8225-38c77777a4eb
Derrick Smith
Age :34
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 04/18/2024
Location : West 21st Street and Beech Avenue
City : Lorain
County : Lorain
State : Ohio
Agency : US Marshals
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
US Marshals entered the home of Derrick Smith to arrest him, state that he had a wooden table leg to defend himself with and was shot and killed by police. The warrant was for parole violation for a prior drug conviction.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.morningjournal.com/2024/04/18/lorain-man-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting/
Name Not Disclosed
Age :
Gender :Male
Race : Unknown
Date : 04/18/2024
Location : Unknown
City : Monroe County
County : Monroe
State : Ohio
Agency : Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Unknown
Event : Died during arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
An intoxicated man stole a pickup and a shotgun and police escalated a standoff in a vehicle. Police attacked the man with CS gas and state he was “going in and out” and then tasered him. Police approached the vehicle and discovered he still had the shotgun but police found him to be incoherent and began physically fighting him to subdue him. The man became unresponsive and died. An autopsy was done by the Licking County coroner’s office who gave “narcotics use” as reason for his death, making no mention of any effects of taser or physical assault as contributing factors. No independent medical examination can be found.
SOURCE LINKS :
Matthew Flynn
Age :34
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 04/01/2024
Location : 8th Street NE and Fair Avenue
City : New Philadelphia
County : Tuscarawas
State : Ohio
Agency : Tuscawaras County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police after car crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A vehicle crashed into a home. When police arrived, driver Matthew Flynn was involved with a fight with police, fled in their cruiser and crashed the cruiser nearby, was shot by police and died.
SOURCE LINKS :
Name Not Disclosed
Age :
Gender :Male
Race : Unknown
Date : 03/28/2024
Location : Interstate 70
City : Fairfield
County : Fairfield
State : Ohio
Agency : Ohio Highway Patrol
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Driver killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Ohio State Police chased a vehicle for unknown reasons until it crashed and the driver died.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://news.yahoo.com/one-killed-70-near-pickerington-132857638.html
Michelle Ball
Age :44
Gender :Female
Race : Black
Date : 03/17/2024
Location : Unknown
City : Cleveland
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Euclid Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland PD chased a vehicle they believed to be stolen into the path of Michelle Ball, a third-party bystander, killing her. The two teenagers in the fleeing vehicle were also injured.
SOURCE LINKS :
Antwoina M. Carter
Age :26
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 03/17/2024
Location : 10500 block of Garfield Avenue
City : Cleveland
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Bystander killed by police during chase and shooting
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Someone allegedly fired shots from a vehicle. Police arrived and opened fire on a vehicle. The vehicle crashed and a 27-year-old woman was found dead. The coroner determined that the bullet that killed her had not come from police but the other party police engaged in a shootout.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.cleveland19.com/2024/03/17/ohio-bci-investigating-incident-cleveland/
Jermaine Toler Jr.
Age :19
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 02/29/2024
Location : Central Ave
City : Toledo
County : Lucas
State : Ohio
Agency : Toledo Police Department
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Driver killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A Flock camera notified police that a minivan was stolen and police escalated a chase that ended when the vehicle crashed into a pole as a result of the chase and the passenger died.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.13abc.com/video/2024/02/29/man-dead-two-teens-injured-toledo-crash-after-police-pursuit/
Matthew Johnson
Age :38
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 02/27/2024
Location : 100 block of North Stanley Street
City : Bellefontaine
County : Logan
State : Ohio
Agency : Bellefontaine Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Bellefontaine PD arrived at a possible burglary the day prior, saw a man running from the same scene the next day and began chasing him. They found him dead a while later, having committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.peakofohio.com/local-news/brief-pursuit-ends-with-man-taking-his-own-life
Colin Jennings
Age :26
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 02/23/2024
Location : North Nelson Road
City : Columbus
County : Franklin
State : Ohio
Agency : Columbus Division of Police
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during mental health wellness check
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A man was reportedly cutting himself with a knife. Police arrived and shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
Michael Yearout
Age :39
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 02/19/2024
Location : West 117th and Bellaire
City : Linndale
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cleveland Division of Police
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Driver killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland Division of Police ran an unannounced and unpermitted chase of Michael Yearout for not stopping on command and hunted him until he crashed into a semi and died. He had committed no crimes. The chase was unauthorized. Yearout had apparently tried to make a left turn, realized it was not permitted and corrected himself. An officer saw this and began hunting him. The father of six was on his way to work when chased into a fatal crash by police.
His family continues to speak out. They state that after six months, police still did not tell them why they initiated the unpermitted chase and they are unable to get answers.
SOURCE LINKS :
Family Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsCXI2R4mUo
Holly Graham
Age :32
Gender :Female
Race : White
Date : 02/16/2024
Location : Unknown
City : Columbus
County : Franklin
State : Ohio
Agency : Columbus Division of Police
Officer(s) : Unknown sergeant
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during traffic stop
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Holly Graham was driving an allegedly stolen car, was traffic-stopped and took off. The police sergeant landed on her roof and shot and killed her through the roof of the car.
SOURCE LINKS :
Joshua J. Hayes
Age :33
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 02/10/2024
Location : SR 568 near milepost 5
City : Marion Township
County : Hancock
State : Ohio
Agency : Ohio State Patrol
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Motorcyclist killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Joshua Hayes did not stop for a traffic stop. Police escalated a chase that lasted until he crashed and died.
SOURCE LINKS :
Dejuan Johnson
Age :25
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 01/25/2024
Location : 100 block Squirrel Road
City : Dayton
County : Montgomery
State : Ohio
Agency : Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
An inmate took a deputy’s gun by force and committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
Zachary A. Harter
Age :22
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 01/20/2024
Location : 100 block of East Mark Street
City : Marion
County : Marion
State : Ohio
Agency : Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Marion Police allege that Zachary Harter was involved in a physical fight when they appeared and fled in his vehicle. Police escalated an allegedly short chase which was enough to cause him to crash into a vehicle, a pole, tree and die. Four other people who were passengers in both vehicles were taken to the hospital.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video/c2853423-child-rescued-from-fatal-police-chase-crash
Robert James Perkins
Age :36
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 01/18/2024
Location : 7702 Spafford Road
City : Cleveland
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during investigation
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland Police chased a vehicle after ShotSpotter alerted them. The man fled to a home and locked himself in. Cleveland Police and Cuyahoga deputies and SWAT besieged the home for hours, finally shot and killed Perkins, alleging he had fired shots.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://fox8.com/news/standoff-in-cleveland-spans-several-hours/
Albert Alderman
Age :33
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 01/14/2024
Location : Avondale Avenue
City : Toledo
County : Lucas
State : Ohio
Agency : Toledo Police Department
Officer(s) : Toledo Police Department
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during pursuit
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Albert Alderman had called Toledo police to report his girlfriend was not breathing. Police arrived, found no signs of trauma and had her autopsied. Autopsy revealed she had been strangled. Police set out to arrest Alderman who fled and fired shots at police. They shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
Brian Douglas Dawson
Age :59
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 01/13/2024
Location : Sheldon Woods, Indian Hollow Reservation
City : Grafton
County : Lorain
State : Ohio
Agency : Lorain County Metro Park Police
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during standoff
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Brian Douglas Dawson locked himself in a vehicle and a park ranger approached. It is unknown what transpired but the ranger alleged that Dawson pointed a gun at him. He called police and SWAT arrived and created a standoff. Police eventually shot and killed Dawson.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://fox8.com/news/swat-standoff-ends-with-alleged-gunman-dead-sheriff/
Name Not Disclosed
Age :
Gender :Male
Race : Unknown
Date : 01/09/2024
Location : 9694 OH-93
City : Pedro
County : Lawrence
State : Ohio
Agency : Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Police approached a man involved in a prior domestic violence incident. The man committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.irontontribune.com/2024/01/16/suspect-in-officer-involved-shooting-dies/
Name Not Disclosed
Age :
Gender :Male
Race : Unknown
Date : 01/09/2024
Location : State Route 93
City : Pedro
County : Lawrence
State : Ohio
Agency : Lawrence County Sheriff's Office
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Lawrence County deputies were responding to a domestic violence situation
and shot and killed an unnamed man.
SOURCE LINKS :
Donnie Holbrook
Age :48
Gender :Male
Race : Unknown
Date : 01/07/2024
Location : 560 S Main St
City : Mansfield
County : Richland
State : Ohio
Agency : Mansfield Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A man forced entry into a home and shot and injured two women. He then hid in a neighbor’s house. SWAT was called. The man committed suicide under police duress.
SOURCE LINKS :
Tommy Cordale Ashley
Age :34
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 12/20/2023
Location : I-75 in Queensgate
City : Cincinnati
County : Hamilton
State : Ohio
Agency : Cincinnati PD
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed while running from police
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A man had been erratic lately, abducting an acquaintance. Police chased the vehicle based on Apple Watch data. The man parked the car at the I-75 and ran on foot. He was killed in traffic when hit by a car.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wlwt.com/article/pd-abduction-suspect-killed-struck-vehicle-interstate/46185366
Michael Eugene Gayhart II 1 of 2
Age :36
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 12/18/2023
Location : SR 503 + Ray Road
City : Gratis
County : Preble
State : Ohio
Agency : Preble County SO
Officer(s) : Joshua Hamilton
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Deputy and bystander killed by unsafe driving during alleged pursuit
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Deputy Joshua Hamilton was driving a police cruiser on road patrol. Deputy Hamilton was allegedly pursuing a vehicle at high speeds when he crashed into oncoming traffic and killed bystander Michael Eugene Gayhart, 36. When the dashcam video was released, it was visible that the deputies were driving very fast on a very narrow country road in the dark, came upon a leftward curve and apparently due to their speed could not navigate the angle of the curve and instead cut across the curve diagonally into oncoming traffic. There was a vehicle in its own lane being driven by Gayhart when the deputy cut across into oncoming traffic and caused the head-on crash in oncoming traffic. The deputy and other driver whom he hit head-on in his land, Gayhart, were both killed. Police never disclosed whom they were chasing and why and whether the chase was valid and authorized by superiors.
Of note, no pursuit can be seen in the video provided by the Preble County Sheriff’s Office to media which is linked below. It must be believed or assumed that they were pursuing someone but no vehicle ahead or elsewhere can be seen, only brief dashcam video of a cruiser racing down a small country road with the impact edited out. The curve appears 90 degrees on map and leads through minimally populated cornfields. Only an officer driving too fast to safely navigate the sharp curve cutting across it due to his unsafe speeds and without confirmation that a valid chase had ever taken place was presented to media on December 29, 2023 by police.
Preble County reportedly shut down roads for the funeral procession of the officer and celebrated him as a hero, gaslighting past the fact that the deputy had caused his own as well as the death of a bystander.
SOURCE LINKS :
Jason Norris
Age :47
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 12/09/2023
Location : Mentor Green Mobile Estates
City : Mentor
County : Lake
State : Ohio
Agency : Mentor PD
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Alleged suicide under police duress
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Jason Norris allegedly shot and killed 3 people in Mentor Green Mobile Estates. Police arrived, engaged him in a shootout and he died. Police allege he died from his own bullet.
SOURCE LINKS :
Curtis Burchall, MD
Age :70
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 12/05/2023
Location : Unknown
City : Cleveland Heights
County : Cuyahoga
State : Ohio
Agency : Cleveland Heights PD
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Third party motorist killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Cleveland PD chased a stolen Amazon van into the path of another vehicle. The driver, Curtis Birchall, 70, was killed when the police chase crashed into his vehicle.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59xb87-xBVU
https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/12/07/police-pursuit-ends-fatal-wrong-way-crash/
Zachary J. Fornash
Age :24
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 12/05/2023
Location : Alan Page Dr
City : Canton
County : Stark
State : Ohio
Agency : Canton PD
Officer(s) : Garrett Marino
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police on patrol
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Canton PD investigated a “man with a gun” call, came upon Zach Fornash and shot and killed him. There was no 911 call. A patrol officer claimed that he was flagged down and sent to investigate Fornash. Zach Fornash was the father of two toddlers. Police have refused to give more detail so far.