By Kristen Spicker
Dayton Daily News, Ohio
DAYTON, Ohio — A man reportedly shot at officers Monday morning before crossing U.S. 35 to hit two cruisers in Dayton after police say he struck a family member with his pickup truck in Trotwood.
Officers fired multiple shots at the man, who was taken to a local hospital along with a Trotwood police officer injured in a head-on crash, said Trotwood police Chief Erik Wilson.
The Trotwood officer was inside one of the cruisers that was hit by the suspect’s vehicle. Wilson said he does not believe the officer was hit by gunfire. A Montgomery County Sheriff’s cruiser also was hit by the vehicle, but the deputy able to get out just before the collision.
Both the suspect and the Trotwood officer were taken to the hospital. Information on their conditions were not available, but Wilson said the officer is expected to survive.
No one was shot by the suspect who was armed with a long gun and shooting out of his pickup during the pursuit, the chief said.
The incident started at 10:54 a.m. when Trotwood police were called to the Voyager Village mobile home park off West Third Street ( U.S. 35 ).
When officers arrived, they found an injured woman who had been hit by a vehicle driven by a relative, the chief said.
As they were providing aid to the woman, the suspect drove past police at high speed and pointed a long weapon at officers as he drove by, Wilson said.
Officers attempted to catch up to the vehicle fora traffic stop, but the suspect continued east on U.S. 35 and reportedly swerved into oncoming traffic.
He then turned right to stay on U.S. 35 East as officers from multiple area agencies responded to assist.
“The suspect then made a U-turn at Abbey (Avenue) and U.S. 35 and began heading back westbound on U.S. 35, at which time he began firing at officers from his moving vehicle,” Wilson said.
At U.S. 35 and Liscum Drive, he drove across all west and east lanes and hit a Trotwood police cruiser and a Montgomery County sheriff’s cruiser, the chief said.
“Multiple shots were fired by police at that time and the suspect was subdued and transported to a local hospital,” Wilson said.
During the pursuit, the suspect drove over tire deflation devices but it did not stop him, the chief said.
Dominic Binkley, press secretary for Ohio BCI, confirmed Dayton police requested the agency investigate “an officer-involved critical incident that occurred in the Dayton area.”
The investigation is active and ongoing, he said.
Trotwood police also are conducting an internal investigation, Wilson said.
Dayton police asked any witnesses or people who may have video of the incident on U.S. 35 to email DPDMediaRequests@daytonohio.gov. Those having issues sending images can email their contact information.
The incident closed U.S. 35 in both directions from Infirmary Road to Abbey Avenue. The highway did not reopen until around 8:15 p.m., about nine hours later.
Dayton police Chief Kamran Afzal said his heart goes to the families of everyone injured Monday.
He noted because the investigation involves multiple scenes and jurisdictions, it’s more complex than standard cases. More information will be in the coming days as the investigation continues, Afzal added.
“We asked the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to come in and investigate it,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck. “Our goal right now is to give them everything they need, give them access to everything they need and then once we’re comfortable that they’re up to date I’m sure there will be a much more detailed presser.”
The sheriff added there is no further risk to the public.
“This is a very unfortunate situation that’s going to take a lot of weeding out,” he said. “Luckily it wasn’t worse than it could have been.”
The pedestrian injured at Voyager Village suffered injuries that are not life-threatening and also was taken to a local hospital.
She is related to the male suspect, Wilson said.
Monday’s incident was the second time in less than a month that a Trotwood officer was injured in a crash.
A Trotwood officer was injured Dec. 14 while sitting in a cruiser blocking Little Richmond and Post Town roads for an earlier crash when her cruiser was struck.
“A motorist failed to stop for the closed road and collided with the occupied stationary police cruiser,” a Trotwood Police Department statement read.
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