Suspect accused of firing officer’s gun indicted for attempted murder
NEW PHILADELPHIA – The New Philadelphia man accused of grabbing and firing a police officer’s gun has been indicted for attempted murder and two other felonies.
Dyllan Riter, 28, has been in the Tuscarawas County Jail since the Jan. 13 incident with bond set at $300,000.
Officials say Riter narrowly missed a police detective’s head when he fired a single shot as officers attempted to arrest him.
Last week the Tuscarawas County Grand Jury indicted Riter for attempted murder, a first-degree felony, felonious assault with a firearm specification, a second-degree felony, and grand theft of a firearm, a third-degree felony. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning.
New Philadelphia Police Captain Rocky Dusenberry said police encountered Riter early on a Tuesday morning when responding to a report of a suspicious person potentially sleeping against a tree behind an apartment complex on East High Avenue. Officers learned Riter was wanted by another agency and tried to arrest him. A scuffle ensued. Dusenberry said Riter disarmed an officer during the fight and a gunshot went off.
Nobody was injured.
Riter is also facing charges in Stark County, where the sheriff’s office says he robbed two Dollar General stores at knifepoint.