Police release details of shooting
Charge filed against victimBy DAVE PAYNE SR.
Article Photos
PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg police released further details about a Thursday incident where a Parkersburg man was shot by a police officer.
John Michael Sadler Jr., 19, 3204 25th St., Parkersburg, was shot by Sgt. Jay Hart after allegedly aiming a shotgun at the officer, said Gerald Board, Parkersburg police chief. According to a St. Joseph's Hospital nursing supervisor, Sadler was still in the intensive care unit and listed in stable condition.
An arrest warrant was signed Friday for Sadler by Wood County Magistrate Joyce Purkey on a felony charge of wanton endangerment with a firearm. Other charges are pending, police said.
Detective Decker Moody said Sadler called 911 around 12:20 a.m. Thursday and threatened to kill himself as well as any police officers who came to his home and that he had several weapons, including a 7mm rifle, capable of firing from a mile away and a large quantity of ammunition.
Moody said that as police arrived, two shots were heard fired inside the home. Only Sadler was home at the time, he said. Shortly after the call, several police officers, Parkersburg SWAT, police negotiators and emergency-medical personnel were on scene and police established a perimeter outside the home, Moody said.
Board said the 911 center called residents in the neighborhood and warned them to stay away from windows and retreat to a safe place in their homes.
Moody said that officers spoke with Sadler on the phone in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but Sadler hung up the phone.
According to the criminal complaint, Sadler "exited his residence with a loaded shotgun, a loaded 7mm rifle and a large knife and began walking down the street to the area where Sgt. Jay Hart was maintaining a perimeter. Sgt. Hart ordered the defendant to put down his weapons at which time the defendant pointed the shotgun at Sgt. Hart in a firing position. Sgt. Hart, in fear for his life and in an attempt to protect others, fired his weapon, striking the defendant."
Moody said Hart fired two shots with a shotgun and wounded Sadler in the upper right torso.
Board said he believes Hart's action was justified.
"Sgt. Hart acted in good faith and responded exactly as he should have," he said.
Sadler was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital early Thursday morning where he underwent surgery. He was listed in fair condition, hospital spokesman Jill Parsons said.
Sadler attended Williamstown and Parkersburg high schools. According to a neighbor, he worked for a company in Marietta until he was laid off several weeks ago because the company was moving.
Moody said police found a spoon with burn marks and white residue and "marijuana" pipes with residue and that police are waiting the results of residue tests.
Board said Hart leads the Neighborhood Crime Unit. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of a routine internal and external investigation into the incident. The external investigation is being performed by the Vienna Police Department and Wood County Sheriff's Office.
Staff writer Jeffrey Saulton contributed to this story.
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beez1066
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09-09-08 7:27 PM
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As for sheila...You are awful judgemental in most of these articles. I sincerely hope you never have to eat your own words someday if a tragedy happens in your family.
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beez1066
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09-09-08 7:25 PM
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Allison , I am sure you and your family are in a lot of pain from this. I can personally testify what it is like to have a family member in crisis. I do think that the officer did the "right thing " by protecting himself. I am glad though the young man lived and has been given another chance. Mental illness can be treated but it can also make you do things a normal person wouldnt do. I will pray he gets the help he needs.
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allison94
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09-07-08 2:06 PM
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sheila & all the others who have judged w/out truly knowing the whole truth michael was troubled but could have been handled without removing 12" of his large intestine part of his liver &possibly loose his arm he was in surgery for 5hrs and still has to have surgery again he was shot w/ a shot gun why not a pistol in the knee etc. not shot w/ a buck shot 3 times not 1 he cried for help @ he was dying hope you never have to hear your child beg for help while your family has to stand by @ listen
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allison94
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09-07-08 1:58 PM
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sheila you have no idea what you are talking about maybe you should hear the whole story before judging someone are you god? i believe at the time michael was troubled but you do not know what he has been through so pray for yourself and hope god doesnt judge you the way you have judge michael he truly has a good heart i love him and support him and hope he gets the love and help he truly deserves we love you kelly & allison
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bigdaddy
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09-06-08 7:55 PM
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That 7 mm is a powerful gun if it can fire from 1 mile. but I have a Savage 22HP that can fire from 50 to 100 miles away. Of course someone has to go out there and pull the trigger.
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yolarry
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09-06-08 5:24 PM
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I bet he sh!t his pants.
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butterfly1955
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09-06-08 3:14 PM
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Amen Sheila
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bensgirl
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09-06-08 6:09 AM
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Yes he acted in good faith and was doing the right thing. Thank you Sgt. Hart for your quick thinking, now you can go home to your family. Sadler needs a real wake up call to life if he believes that guns and drugs will help him in life. Maybe he can think about it when he sits in Regional for aiming at the officer.
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