Individuals in shooting ID’d in?warrant

PARKERSBURG A warrant obtained after a man was shot by a Parkersburg police officer early Thursday morning discloses the identity of the officer and the man wounded.

Sgt. Jay Hart ordered John Michael Sadler Jr., 19, 3204 25th St., also known as Mike, to drop several weapons and lay on the ground; however, Sadler pointed a rifle in a shooting position at Hart who then shot Sadler, according to an affidavit from Detective Decker Moody for the warrant obtained in Wood County Magistrate Court Thursday morning. The warrant was signed by Magistrate Donna Jackson.

Authorities have yet to identify the officer, who was placed on administrative leave, or the victim. Police Chief Gerald Board and Prosecutor Ginny Conley met Thursday and it was mutually agreed not to disclose the information pending the investigation.

Moody said he was called at 2 a.m. Thursday to assist with the investigation, the affidavit said.

Sadler Jr. returned home intoxicated and became upset with his father, John Michael Sadler Sr., and his father's girlfriend, the affidavit said. Sadler Jr. got a hunting rifle and threatened to kill his father and the girlfriend, who left the residence, the affidavit said.

A short time later Sadler Jr. called 911 and told the operator he had a 7mm semiautomatic weapon, a shotgun and a machete and threatened to kill someone, the affidavit said. Later in the conversation, Sadler Jr. threatened to kill himself and said he would shoot if he saw anyone, the affidavit said.

''While at the phone with the 911 dispatcher, Chad Walker, Walker heard what appeared to be a gunshot and Sadler informed him that he had just fired into the ceiling of the residence,'' the affidavit said.

The SWAT unit and negotiators arrived, the affidavit said. A perimeter was established and Lt. Delmas Barker, the negotiator, spoke with Sadler by telephone and unsuccessfully attempted to persuade him to put down the weapons and leave the house, the affidavit said.

Sadler Jr. left the house armed with the 7mm rifle, a shotgun and a large knife and began walking down the street where he confronted Hart, the affidavit said.

''Sgt. Hart ordered Sadler to put down the weapons and lay on the ground, at which time Sadler pointed the rifle in the direction of Hart in a firing position and Hart fired his weapon at Sadler striking him,'' the affidavit said.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Investigators seized a notebook with writing, ammunition from the house, a knife, a compound bow, a spoon with a white residue and two marijuana pipes, according to the search warrant.

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-7 | Post a comment

opinionated1
09-05-08 10:46 PM »Report Abuse	(continued)do the trick I guess ill have to resort to the knife" STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!
maintenancetech
09-05-08 9:40 PM »Report Abuse	Does sadler have three arms? I'm just trying to picture how you can point a rifle in the firing position, (butt to the shoulder and taking aim) while holding a shotgun at the same time? True the officer had every right to protect himself, if his life was in danger and probably did the right thing. But I can't point a rifle while holding a shotgun at the same time. Thing's that make you say Hmmmm
butterfly1955
09-05-08 3:55 PM »Report Abuse	Our police are out there to protect us and that is what Sgt. Hart was doing. Think about if this guy had kept on walking and came upon one of our children. Thanks to our police department.
JCB1964
09-05-08 10:06 AM »Report Abuse	Sgt. Jay Hart did the right thing. Jay has a family to go home to. WAY TO GO JAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MatthewBB
09-05-08 9:11 AM »Report Abuse	WVPirate, soo cinical. I think everyone would agree that the officer did the right thing.
yellingsoccermom
09-05-08 7:18 AM »Report Abuse	Sometimes I think police officers tend to play hero. In this case, it sounds as if the officer did the right thing. If all the information is true and the suspect was aiming the gun in a firing position, what was the officer supposed to do? Stand there and get shot? I think there is no question that the officer was defending himself. Plain and simple for me and I am in no way an expert. Good job to our law enforcement.
WVPirate
09-05-08 6:09 AM »Report Abuse	Sounds like the Police did a good job to me. Can't wait to hear how you experts would have done it.

You must first login before you can comment.

Existing Member Login
Not a Member?	Create a Member Account
*Your email address:		<--Email REQUIRED!
*Password:	Forgot Password?	<--Password REQUIRED!
	Remember my email address.