Post by KC on Jul 12, 2006 21:54:45 GMT -5
July 12, 2006 - A Noble County sheriff’s deputy who struck and killed a suspect with his cruiser while the man attempted to elude police on foot near Cambridge Thursday is expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Ohio Highway Patrol Sgt. D.R. Van Buren said there was evidence showing Noble County sheriff deputy Rocky Hayes, 22, attempted to avoid colliding with the man.
“There were some yaw marks on the road showing that he swerved (to avoid the collision),” Van Buren said.
Killed was Charles L. Jones, 22, of Cleveland. Jones and a second man charged out of the incident, Regario Turner, 24, of Cleveland, are believed to have been headed south on Interstate 77 after having just shot a man in a Cleveland suburb.
Cleveland Division of Police Lt. Thomas Stacho said Jones and Turner became involved in an altercation with Paul Bellito, 40, of Cleveland, around 11 p.m. July 5.
Bellito was shot in the back and in the face. The man remains in critical condition at a Cleveland-area hospital, Stacho said.
“Several witnesses said they heard an altercation and gunshots involving several black males and the white victim,” Stacho said.
Jones and Turner got into Bellito’s truck and fled south on I- 77, Stacho said.
According to the patrol, troopers attempted to stop Bellito’s 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck for a speed violation. During the traffic stop, Jones and Turner fled the scene in the vehicle, exited at the nearby Ohio 313 ramp and crashed into a swamp.
Van Buren said it appears Jones ran out into traffic and into the path of Hayes’ cruiser as he was responding.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Turner managed to elude police for nearly 11 hours before he was apprehended Thursday afternoon as he was exiting a Cambridge business.
Tuner is charged with first-degree felony aggravated burglary and is being held in a Cleveland jail without bond.
Noble County Sheriff Landon Smith said Hayes remains on active duty.
“Why wouldn’t he be?” Smith asked. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
Smith said the cruiser involved in the incident was a total loss.
“It was an older vehicle and the insurance company said it would cost more to fix it than it was worth,” he said.
www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new44_712200683537.asp
Ohio Highway Patrol Sgt. D.R. Van Buren said there was evidence showing Noble County sheriff deputy Rocky Hayes, 22, attempted to avoid colliding with the man.
“There were some yaw marks on the road showing that he swerved (to avoid the collision),” Van Buren said.
Killed was Charles L. Jones, 22, of Cleveland. Jones and a second man charged out of the incident, Regario Turner, 24, of Cleveland, are believed to have been headed south on Interstate 77 after having just shot a man in a Cleveland suburb.
Cleveland Division of Police Lt. Thomas Stacho said Jones and Turner became involved in an altercation with Paul Bellito, 40, of Cleveland, around 11 p.m. July 5.
Bellito was shot in the back and in the face. The man remains in critical condition at a Cleveland-area hospital, Stacho said.
“Several witnesses said they heard an altercation and gunshots involving several black males and the white victim,” Stacho said.
Jones and Turner got into Bellito’s truck and fled south on I- 77, Stacho said.
According to the patrol, troopers attempted to stop Bellito’s 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck for a speed violation. During the traffic stop, Jones and Turner fled the scene in the vehicle, exited at the nearby Ohio 313 ramp and crashed into a swamp.
Van Buren said it appears Jones ran out into traffic and into the path of Hayes’ cruiser as he was responding.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Turner managed to elude police for nearly 11 hours before he was apprehended Thursday afternoon as he was exiting a Cambridge business.
Tuner is charged with first-degree felony aggravated burglary and is being held in a Cleveland jail without bond.
Noble County Sheriff Landon Smith said Hayes remains on active duty.
“Why wouldn’t he be?” Smith asked. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
Smith said the cruiser involved in the incident was a total loss.
“It was an older vehicle and the insurance company said it would cost more to fix it than it was worth,” he said.
www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new44_712200683537.asp