2/25/13 Ohio State Patrol investigating shooting incident
By Nick Sabo
February 25, 2013
357
SUMMARY: West Salem man injured after trooper fires shots at vehicle
An incident in which a West Salem man was injured after shots were fired by a Wooster Post State Highway Patrol trooper is under investigation.
Injured in the Sunday, Feb. 24 shooting incident is Ryan M. Porter, 24, West Salem. Porter is listed in good condition at Akron General Medical Center.
According to Wooster Police and OSP reports, Porter was a passenger in a stationary vehicle in the 1300 block of Smithville-Western Road. The vehicle was reported as suspicious and a Wooster Police officer and the highway patrol trooper were investigating the matter when the driver, Stephen M. Thompson, 26, 8 Terrace Drive, Ashland, accelerated through a yard of a residence and began driving toward the officers.
The trooper fired an unknown number of shots at the vehicle, which traveled off the right side of the road and struck an embankment. Porter was struck by the gunfire.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:10 a.m.
An investigation into the shooting was underway Sunday morning, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Anne Ralston said.
Our critical incident response team responded early Sunday and proceeded to process the scene, Ralston said. Ralston said evidence was collected, including photographs of the scene. Further evidence, such as dash cam recordings or other records of the incident, will be included in the ongoing investigation, Ralston said. The Columbus headquarters of the State Highway Patrol will conduct the full investigation.
The trooper has been placed on leave during the course of the investigation, Ralston said, a routine matter when handling an officer involved shooting situation.
Thompson was arraigned Monday on one count of assault on a police officer in Wayne County Municipal Court. He was released on a $2,500 bond.
The Wooster officer at no time discharged his firearm in the shooting incident, according to a Wooster Police press release. The police department will conduct a routine administrative investigation in the actions of the Wooster officer, according to the press release.
