Uptick in fugitive arrests has police on alert
NEW PHILADELPHIA – An alarming trend has the city’s safety director sending a message to criminals and fugitives seeking refuge in the city.
New Philadelphia Safety Director Kevin Milligan says last week’s arrest of a Stark County armed robbery suspect where an officer was nearly shot is the latest instance of somebody wanted elsewhere attempting to evade law enforcement by coming to Tuscarawas County.
In another high-profile incident back in November, U.S. Marshalls arrested the suspect in a Summit County Airbnb shooting on Ray Avenue in New Philadelphia.
Milligan says there have also been lower profile instances of fugitives fleeing to Tuscarawas County. He says law enforcement officials have taken note.
“It’s something that in preservation of our community and the safety of our citizens that Chief Pohovey and her leadership team working alongside with our partners at the U.S. Marshall’s Office are going to be paying particular attention to give the uptick we’ve seen over the last few months,” Milligan said.
In last week’s arrest, police say Dyllan Riter if New Philadelphia grabbed an officer’s gun and fired one shot, missing a detective by inches. Riter is in the Tuscarawas County Jail. He faces an attempted murder charge in Tuscarawas County and armed robbery charges in Stark County. He will be in court on Wednesday.
Milligan commended the three responding officers in a statement last week. He says deadly force would have been justified in what he called a volatile and unpredictable situation. He says the three responding officers demonstrated exceptional discipline and remarkable restraint.
Public Statement from the Safety Director of the City of New Philadelphia
The City of New Philadelphia remains committed to transparency, accountability, and public safety. In
light of the recent arrest of Dyllan Riter, who was a fugitive harboring within our city, I want to publicly
express my full support for the actions taken by four New Philadelphia Police officers involved in this
incident.
These officers operated under extraordinary stress in a volatile and unpredictable situation in which
deadly force would of be justified by legal standards. Their response demonstrated exceptional
discipline, courage, and professionalism. As reflected in the video released to the public, our officers
exercised sound judgment and remarkable restraint to safely apprehend and take a dangerous fugitive
into custody. Their actions exemplify the standards of training, ethics, and self-control that define the
New Philadelphia Police Department.
While this incident has drawn heightened public attention, it is important to recognize that the conduct
displayed by these officers is not an exception—it is representative of the professionalism consistently
demonstrated throughout our department. I want to personally thank these four officers for their decisive
and courageous actions, as well as extend my gratitude to every member of the New Philadelphia Police
Department who works daily to protect our community. Those who seek to commit crime in our city
will be held accountable, and those who attempt to evade justice by seeking refuge here should be
assured that such behavior will not be tolerated.
I would also like to thank Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer for his partnership throughout this
investigation and for working collaboratively with our department to ensure the timely release of body
worn camera footage to the community in support of transparency. I further appreciate the Prosecutor’s
Office for its commitment to pursuing charges to the highest extent permitted by law. The safety of our
officers is taken seriously, and individuals who choose to place our officers at risk will be held fully
accountable and fully prosecuted within the constraints of the law. This cooperation between our offices
reflects our shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and maintaining public trust.
I would also like to thank Chief Tessa Pohovey for her leadership, steady guidance, and unwavering
commitment to serving the City of New Philadelphia. I look forward to continuing my work alongside
Chief Poh0vey, City Administration, and City Council to ensure our police department has the staffing,
resources, and support necessary to meet the demands placed upon it—while also protecting the health,
safety, and well-being of our current workforce.
Law enforcement today faces increasingly complex and evolving challenges. Our responsibility is not
only to respond effectively to the needs of today, but to prepare our department for the realities of
tomorrow. That preparation requires thoughtful planning, adequate staffing, and sustained community
support.
We are grateful for the trust and cooperation of our residents, and we remain committed to providing
safety, security, and accountability for the community and citizens we are honored to serve.
Kevin Milligan
Safety Director
City of New Philadelphia