Ohio BCI investigation deputy-involved shooting during pursuit
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Nov. 13, 2023) – Ohio BCI is investigating a shooting incident involving a Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s deputy that left one woman with non-life-threatening injuries.
The woman was a passenger in an SUV involved in a pursuit Sunday night. Authorities say she was stuck in the leg by a bullet and taken to a Canton hospital for treatment.
Troopers say the SUV driver was 43-year-old Carl Brown of Gnadenhutten.
State Highway Patrol New Philadelphia Post Sgt. Bill Bower says it started when troopers pulled the SUV over at a gas station near Strasburg for a turn signal violation on I-77 around 11 p.m. that evening.
Bower says troopers began questioning Brown about the suspected odor of alcohol and burnt marijuana coming from inside the SUV.
“The trooper that made the stop then requested backup, and as backup was arriving at the gas station, the subject fled from the scene,” said Bower.
Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell says the shooting happened at the intersection of Blacksnake Hill Road and Schneiders Crossing Road as the SUV reportedly went around stop sticks and sped towards two deputies at the scene.
“Both of them attempted to move out of the way,” said Campbell. “One of them felt his life was truly in jeopardy so he fired some shots at the vehicle,” Campbell said.
Campbell says Brown continued driving a short time with the injured passenger.
“During that section of the pursuit, the driver actually called our office, and our 911 dispatcher was attempting to get him to pull over, and we could hear a female in the vehicle crying,” said Campbell.
Bower says the pursuit would soon end at the Zoar Levee.
“(Brown) exited the vehicle, and we placed him in custody at that point in time without incident,” Bower said.
Campbell says the deputy who fired the shots has been placed on paid administrative leave, initially, as Ohio BCI investigates the incident.
“Unless the investigation shows anything different, I think it’s going to show that he took allowable action,” Campbell said.
Brown was arrested for a warrant out of Southern District Court and taken to the Tuscarawas County Jail. He now faces new charges for the pursuit that include felony fleeing and eluding and attempted felonious assault.
Bower says there was one other passenger who got out of the vehicle while it was stopped at the gas station. That person was questioned and released. Bower doesn’t anticipate any charges for either passenger.