Steve N
Member
Just what the anti's need. I feel sorry for the officer's family. It is the first "killed on duty" police shooting in the city's history.
Twinsburg, OH, southeast suburb of Cleveland
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/16868282/detail.html
Twinsburg Officer Shot 4 Times In Head
Vigil Planned Tonight
POSTED: 9:28 am EDT July 13, 2008
UPDATED: 1:50 pm EDT July 14, 2008
TWINSBURG, Ohio -- A Twinsburg K-9 officer was shot four times in the head during a traffic stop on Sunday.
A preliminary autopsy was done Monday on Officer Joshua Miktarian, 33. He had pulled a car over at about 2 a.m. when he was shot.
According to the Cuyahoga County coroner, only one bullet of medium caliber was found.
Police said Miktarian called for backup after pulling over Ashford Thompson, 23. They said Thompson fled and shot at Miktarian.
Officers said Thompson was pulled over because Miktarian heard loud music and thought Thompson might have been driving under the influence.
Dispatchers tried to reach Miktarian, and at the same time, a nearby resident called 911 to report hearing shouting and a popping sound.
The K-9 officer was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The German shepherd was in the car during the shooting.
After an extensive manhunt, Thompson was arrested by Bedford Heights police. A weapon was recovered upon his arrest. Police said that when they took Thompson into custody, he was still wearing a handcuff that had been attached by Miktarian.
Thompson is currently in Summit County Jail awaiting charges and a court appearance on Monday.
Miktarian leaves behind a wife, Holly, and 3-month-old daughter, Thea. Holly is a police officer in Oakwood Village.
Miktarian was also a part-time officer in Uniontown and owner of the pizza franchise Gionino's Restaurant on Old Route 8 in Northfield. He was a guitarist in a rock band called Barium.
Vigils
Twinsburg officers' wives plan to hold a candlelight vigil outside City Hall Monday night.
A makeshift memorial including photos of Miktarian, potted plants and American flags has sprouted there.
Friends and family also gathered for a vigil on Glenwood Drive at Route 91 in Twinsburg on Sunday night. That's the same spot where Miktarian was killed.
One by one, friends and family of the 33-year-old officer took their chance to remember him.
"This will be a very hard week, but I know there's a lot of prayers out there," one man said.
"It shouldn't have had to happen. It shouldn't have had to happen to a good guy like Josh," a fellow officer said.
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/16879681/detail.html
Man Accused Of Killing Officer Claims Self-Defense
Bond Set At $5M
POSTED: 2:59 pm EDT July 14, 2008
UPDATED: 7:24 am EDT July 15, 2008
TWINSBURG, Ohio -- A 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a Twinsburg police officer pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Ashford Thompson appeared for a video arraignment, and bond was set at $5 million.
Thompson is accused of shooting 33-year-old Officer Joshua Miktarian early Sunday morning after the officer pulled him over on Glenwood Drive at Route 91.
Thompson's defense claims the suspect shot in self-defense, and said they have a witness that will back up that claim.
Miktarian stopped Thompson because he heard loud music coming from the car and thought Thompson may have been under the influence, officers said.
A preliminary autopsy showed that Miktarian was shot four times in the head. Because only one bullet was found, investigators are taking another look at the crime scene and could collect more evidence there.
After an extensive manhunt, Thompson was arrested by Bedford Heights police. A weapon was recovered upon his arrest. He had a concealed weapon permit.
Thompson's only prior offense was having illegally tinted car windows.
Twinsburg, OH, southeast suburb of Cleveland
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/16868282/detail.html
Twinsburg Officer Shot 4 Times In Head
Vigil Planned Tonight
POSTED: 9:28 am EDT July 13, 2008
UPDATED: 1:50 pm EDT July 14, 2008
TWINSBURG, Ohio -- A Twinsburg K-9 officer was shot four times in the head during a traffic stop on Sunday.
A preliminary autopsy was done Monday on Officer Joshua Miktarian, 33. He had pulled a car over at about 2 a.m. when he was shot.
According to the Cuyahoga County coroner, only one bullet of medium caliber was found.
Police said Miktarian called for backup after pulling over Ashford Thompson, 23. They said Thompson fled and shot at Miktarian.
Officers said Thompson was pulled over because Miktarian heard loud music and thought Thompson might have been driving under the influence.
Dispatchers tried to reach Miktarian, and at the same time, a nearby resident called 911 to report hearing shouting and a popping sound.
The K-9 officer was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The German shepherd was in the car during the shooting.
After an extensive manhunt, Thompson was arrested by Bedford Heights police. A weapon was recovered upon his arrest. Police said that when they took Thompson into custody, he was still wearing a handcuff that had been attached by Miktarian.
Thompson is currently in Summit County Jail awaiting charges and a court appearance on Monday.
Miktarian leaves behind a wife, Holly, and 3-month-old daughter, Thea. Holly is a police officer in Oakwood Village.
Miktarian was also a part-time officer in Uniontown and owner of the pizza franchise Gionino's Restaurant on Old Route 8 in Northfield. He was a guitarist in a rock band called Barium.
Vigils
Twinsburg officers' wives plan to hold a candlelight vigil outside City Hall Monday night.
A makeshift memorial including photos of Miktarian, potted plants and American flags has sprouted there.
Friends and family also gathered for a vigil on Glenwood Drive at Route 91 in Twinsburg on Sunday night. That's the same spot where Miktarian was killed.
One by one, friends and family of the 33-year-old officer took their chance to remember him.
"This will be a very hard week, but I know there's a lot of prayers out there," one man said.
"It shouldn't have had to happen. It shouldn't have had to happen to a good guy like Josh," a fellow officer said.
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/16879681/detail.html
Man Accused Of Killing Officer Claims Self-Defense
Bond Set At $5M
POSTED: 2:59 pm EDT July 14, 2008
UPDATED: 7:24 am EDT July 15, 2008
TWINSBURG, Ohio -- A 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a Twinsburg police officer pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Ashford Thompson appeared for a video arraignment, and bond was set at $5 million.
Thompson is accused of shooting 33-year-old Officer Joshua Miktarian early Sunday morning after the officer pulled him over on Glenwood Drive at Route 91.
Thompson's defense claims the suspect shot in self-defense, and said they have a witness that will back up that claim.
Miktarian stopped Thompson because he heard loud music coming from the car and thought Thompson may have been under the influence, officers said.
A preliminary autopsy showed that Miktarian was shot four times in the head. Because only one bullet was found, investigators are taking another look at the crime scene and could collect more evidence there.
After an extensive manhunt, Thompson was arrested by Bedford Heights police. A weapon was recovered upon his arrest. He had a concealed weapon permit.
Thompson's only prior offense was having illegally tinted car windows.
Last edited by a moderator:
.
