An investigation into the January 22 police shooting of an unarmed suspect during an alleged shoplifting at Macedonia clothing store continues.
There were no new details in the shooting as of February 10, according to Macedonia Police Executive Lieutenant Vincent Yakopovich.
However, a recently released police report and a recording of police radio traffic from Broadcastify.com, have shed additional light on the incident which sent one man to the hospital with a gunshot wound near his groin after police alleged he grabbed for an officer’s duty belt during a struggle.
Police were called to Burlington Coat Factory on East Aurora Road shortly before 5 p.m. after an employee at Best Buy reported a man had left the electronics store after allegedly putting several cameras under his shirt and left.
Police found a man matching the description in Burlington Coat Factory. During questioning, a black leather belt, allegedly belonging to the store, was found hidden under the man’s clothing, according to the report.
As officers escorted the man toward the exit he began to “tense up,” according to the report. Two officers attempted to handcuff the man, but he struggled, broke away, and sprinted toward the exit.
“The male began swinging his arms around and was not listening to Macedonia officers,” according to the report.
The man “grabbed at” one officer’s duty belt, according to the report.
The officer “yelled multiple times “tase him,” the report stated. One officer attempted to use his taser.
“But when doing so, the male began swinging his arms and making possible kicking movements.
“The officer who felt the suspect grab at his duty weapon so he then grabbed his firearm and fired one round towards the male’s thigh area,” according to the report.
According to the radio replay; “Do we know where the gunshot wound is on the patient?
“It’s gonna be a gunshot wound to the groin area.”
“Is this an officer or the male?”
“It’s the theft suspect.”
One officer “immediately requested” EMS while the other officer “slowly brought the male suspect down,” according to the report. Police held pressure on the wound and applied a bandage until help arrived.
A rescue helicopter was requested as a precaution, according to the report.
The man was transported to Akron City Hospital. His condition is unknown.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been assisting in the investigation and the officer was placed on paid administrative leave per city policy.
The man is facing several potential charges, according to the report. He has yet to be charged, according to the report.
