Massillon Patrol Officer
Eric Taylor
Posted on 08/10/2002 6:07:37 AM PDT by ResistorSister
MASSILLON (OHIO) -- A city police officer and a man he was chasing are dead, killed in a shootout at the old Agathon ballfield Friday night.
Killed were Eric Taylor, 31, a four-year veteran of the Police Department, and a still unidentified suspect.
“This is a major tragedy for our city,” said Mayor Francis Cicchinelli, who announced Taylor’s death at Massillon Community Hospital at about 11:45 p.m.
Taylor was married, with three young children.
Investigators from the Ohio Highway Patrol, Massillon Police Department and Stark County coroner’s office remained at the scene past midnight, as did the body of the suspect, a balding, white man who was driving a four-door Ford sedan with Stark County license plates. His body was covered with one sheet, another blocked the view of the more than 100 bystanders who gathered near First Street and Cherry Road NW.
The trouble began shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Route 21 and Edwards Road in Wayne County near Doylestown, according to Lt. Herb Homan, commander of the Wooster Post of the Highway Patrol.
One of his troopers had stopped the southbound Ford on Route 21 at 8:22 p.m. for speeding. The trooper talked with the driver, there was a confrontation and five minutes later, the trooper reported the car was fleeing. He chased it south, and Massillon police got involved.
The chase ended in Massillon east of Route 21, in the ballfield just south of Cherry Road.
Lt. Gary Lewis of the Highway Patrol said the man got out of his car with a high-powered semiautomatic weapon, and that he fired first at officers. At least three Massillon officers and a trooper were involved in the gunfire. He said they don’t know which officer fired the shot that killed the suspect nor do they know which shot killed Taylor.
Scott McElfresh said he was watching television in his home on Cherry Road, northeast of the scene, when he heard shots. He looked out his window and saw flashes from gunfire.
He estimated he heard four shots and then an additional 30 to 40 shots, and that he saw flashes indicating police were returning fire.
“It’s not something you expect to happen in Massillon,” he said.
Other witnesses said they heard 10 to 12 shots.
“We didn’t know if it was fireworks or gunshots,” said Dave Hodgson, who was with friends about a block to the north.
Stark County Coroner James Pritchard said the suspect died of gunshot wounds, but he won’t know how many until he does an autopsy on the man today. He’ll also do an autopsy on Taylor.
Taylor was rushed from the scene to Massillon Community moments after the shooting.
The suspect’s body remained on the corner of a field off of First Street and Cherry Road until after midnight. Police said they had not verified the man’s identification, and they wouldn’t release his name until family was notified.
Through the early morning, Taylor’s cruiser and the suspect’s car remained in the middle of the field on which The Arena is being built.
The Highway Patrol and Massillon police are sharing the investigation.
They used 44 red cups to mark shell casings and other pieces of evidence on First Street. Bright lights illuminated the scene, showing the back window of a Massillon cruiser was shattered, and glass was scattered across the street.
A helicopter from Columbus was brought in to map the crime scene.
A handful of officers not involved in the investigation showed up at the scene, some in uniform and some in street clothes, somber and stone faced. Family of other officers showed up, patted a couple of officers on the back, shook their hands and hugged them.
A police chaplain met with the family at Massillon Community.
A red tent for officers was pitched in the yard of the Massillon Recreation Center, across the street from the crime scene.
For one, I don't think they have a legitimate right to stop you at all unless you've committed a crime against another citizen.
But laying that aside, I haven't said that they were acting outside their authority. I have said we don't know the facts. We don't know if perhaps the officer might have panicked and started shooting or drew his gun, scaring Matthews and inducing his first flight.
That's why I have said on a couple of occasions that the police video will be helpful to see what actually occurred.
Why, indeed?
comment on the picture which you have eroneously claimed was of a man covered in a white sheet.
I claimed t was a white man under a tarp. You're getting nuttier by the minute.
Nowhere does the article state that ballistic tests were conducted. Furthermore, IA routinely conducts ballistic tests on the guns of officers involved in shootings.
A barrel is not, as you suggest like DNA, multiple firings will change the markings on the exiting bullets over time. But this is moot at this point. We have no evidence that there have been any ballistic tests.
The officer who said that the bullet "matched Matthew's 'imported' gun" could simply mean that it is of the same caliber. Then again if it was a 9mm that could also mean that the bullet matched one or several of the officer's 'domestic' guns. Although it is also probable that one or several of the officers are shooting 'imported' guns like the Glock 9mm for instance.
And there is no such tarp. You're either looking at a different picture or ignoring the second photo in the article.
What if they had called it a "penetrating trauma"?
It was always obvious from your posts that you considered the constitution to be "poison" but I'm glad you've finally admitted this in public.
Here's a picture of Officer Taylor who is not pictured on the ground as you say he is and is not bald as you say he is.
The officer was not there, he was at the hospital. The "tarp" I mention is whatever that is that is on the body of the white, balding suspect as it lays on the ground.
And who said the coroner is a FReeper, besides advocate10 who likewise doesn't quote anyone?
Have you hurt anyone? Has anyone complained and signed an affidafit?
Yes somebody did say that. Somebody who knew him.
God you are such a liar. I never said it WAS the officer. I ASKED if the caption was wrong since the second picture appears to be a bald, black man lying dead in front of a police cruiser and a white van.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.