Sgt Jon
07-14-2008, 07:48
(Ohio)
Twinsburg officer shot, killed in routine traffic stop
Posted by Jesse Tinsley and Laura Johnston July 13, 2008 09:39AM
Twinsburg police officer Joshua T. Miktarian, 33, was fatally shot early Sunday two minutes after pulling over a driver on a routine traffic stop, police said.
The Cuyahoga County Coroner on Sunday afternoon ruled the case a homicide. Miktarian died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
It's unclear why the man was pulled over or what triggered the fatal altercation. The 23-year-old suspect fled the scene, but was arrested soon after at a home in Bedford Heights.
He is being held in Summit County jail, and Twinsburg police plan to name him at a 5 p.m. press conference.
Miktarian - an upbeat K-9 officer who had worked Twinsburg's midnight shift since 1997 - pulled over the man at 1:54 a.m. near the 2600 block of Glenwood Drive, police spokesman Tom Austin said. Two minutes later, Miktarian radioed for assistance.
Twinsburg police officer Joshua Miktarian's canine officer partner, Bagio, who was in the car, but not deployed, at the time of the officer's death. At almost the same time, police received a 911 call about loud shouting and "pop" sounds, Austin said. Police dispatch radioed Miktarian at 1:57 p.m., but there was no response.
Police will not say what kind of weapon was used. Miktarian's German Shepherd partner, Bagio, was in the car at the time of the shooting and was not hurt.
Miktarian was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 2:48 a.m. The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office has custody of his body.
The Cleveland Heights Police Department provided an American flag to the Coroner's Office to cover the remains of Miktarian. Heights patrolman Jason West was killed in May 2007, and West and Miktarian are two of five officers to die in the line of duty since 2006. The others are Cleveland Det. Jonathan "A.J." Schroeder, Euclid patrolman George Brentar and Cleveland officer Derek Owens.
Miktarian was raised in Tallmadge, where he lived with his wife, Holly, an Oakwood police officer, and their 3-month-old daughter, Thea.
He had owned a Gionino's Pizza franchise in Sagamore Hills since 1997, played guitar in an Akron rock band called Barium since 2001 and recently had began working part-time as a police officer in Uniontown.
"Josh always was making people laugh," said his colleague, Officer Robert Hilton. "He kept everyone smiling. He kept the guys happy and going, which is really something when you work straight midnights."
Twinsburg Police Chief Chris Noga also praised Miktarian as an all-around great officer. Miktarian began working part-time at Uniontown recently because he started his police career there and wanted to teach the younger officers what he had learned, the chief said.
The department is devastated by Miktarian's death. So are his longtime Tallmadge neighbors, fans who posted messages on Barium band's MySpace page, friends and co-workers at Gionino's.
The pizza place was open Sunday, but with just two acquaintances working. Close employees and friends gathered at his home.
"I was in shock," said Hilton, who retired Friday. "You know it can happen, but think, 'This doesn't happen here in this neighborhood. It's a good community.' "
Twinsburg officer shot, killed in routine traffic stop
Posted by Jesse Tinsley and Laura Johnston July 13, 2008 09:39AM
Twinsburg police officer Joshua T. Miktarian, 33, was fatally shot early Sunday two minutes after pulling over a driver on a routine traffic stop, police said.
The Cuyahoga County Coroner on Sunday afternoon ruled the case a homicide. Miktarian died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
It's unclear why the man was pulled over or what triggered the fatal altercation. The 23-year-old suspect fled the scene, but was arrested soon after at a home in Bedford Heights.
He is being held in Summit County jail, and Twinsburg police plan to name him at a 5 p.m. press conference.
Miktarian - an upbeat K-9 officer who had worked Twinsburg's midnight shift since 1997 - pulled over the man at 1:54 a.m. near the 2600 block of Glenwood Drive, police spokesman Tom Austin said. Two minutes later, Miktarian radioed for assistance.
Twinsburg police officer Joshua Miktarian's canine officer partner, Bagio, who was in the car, but not deployed, at the time of the officer's death. At almost the same time, police received a 911 call about loud shouting and "pop" sounds, Austin said. Police dispatch radioed Miktarian at 1:57 p.m., but there was no response.
Police will not say what kind of weapon was used. Miktarian's German Shepherd partner, Bagio, was in the car at the time of the shooting and was not hurt.
Miktarian was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 2:48 a.m. The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office has custody of his body.
The Cleveland Heights Police Department provided an American flag to the Coroner's Office to cover the remains of Miktarian. Heights patrolman Jason West was killed in May 2007, and West and Miktarian are two of five officers to die in the line of duty since 2006. The others are Cleveland Det. Jonathan "A.J." Schroeder, Euclid patrolman George Brentar and Cleveland officer Derek Owens.
Miktarian was raised in Tallmadge, where he lived with his wife, Holly, an Oakwood police officer, and their 3-month-old daughter, Thea.
He had owned a Gionino's Pizza franchise in Sagamore Hills since 1997, played guitar in an Akron rock band called Barium since 2001 and recently had began working part-time as a police officer in Uniontown.
"Josh always was making people laugh," said his colleague, Officer Robert Hilton. "He kept everyone smiling. He kept the guys happy and going, which is really something when you work straight midnights."
Twinsburg Police Chief Chris Noga also praised Miktarian as an all-around great officer. Miktarian began working part-time at Uniontown recently because he started his police career there and wanted to teach the younger officers what he had learned, the chief said.
The department is devastated by Miktarian's death. So are his longtime Tallmadge neighbors, fans who posted messages on Barium band's MySpace page, friends and co-workers at Gionino's.
The pizza place was open Sunday, but with just two acquaintances working. Close employees and friends gathered at his home.
"I was in shock," said Hilton, who retired Friday. "You know it can happen, but think, 'This doesn't happen here in this neighborhood. It's a good community.' "