One dead after pursuit in Washington County
UPDATE: Ohio 339 has reopened between U.S. 50 at Belpre and Veto Road after being closed for nearly 11 hours following a police pursuit that ended with the suspect driver dead in an officer-involved shooting.
Agents of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation were processing the scene, collecting evidence and conducting interviews. The state agency is investigating because the incident involved a deputy sheriff.
“When you process a crime scene, it’s slow and methodical,” Chief Deputy Mark Warden of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
The deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy, he said.
The identities of the suspect and the deputy have not been released at this time.
Original story:
BELPRE – One man is dead after a pursuit on Ohio 339 in Washington County ended with shots fired north of Belpre, a spokesman from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
The pursuit started around 4:15 a.m. in Barlow, Chief Deputy Mark Warden said. The suspect fled south on Ohio 339, Warden said.
The suspect vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle just north of the Belpre Township Cemetery and went off the right side of the road, Warden said.
“As a result of the officer’s contact with the suspect, there were shots fired,” Warden said.
The suspect, who has not been identified, is deceased and the officer involved was placed on administrative leave, according to the policy of the sheriff’s office, Warden said.
Ohio 339 remains closed from Veto Road to U.S. 50.
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