News Staff Reporters
SPARTA — A 51-year-old Centerburg man is dead following a chase with law enforcement after he stole a Knox County Sheriff’s Office cruiser in Centerburg.
William E. Myers took the cruiser in Centerburg and led law enforcement on a chase that spanned Knox, Delaware and Morrow counties.
Myers was spotted in the cruiser at a church on Ohio 314 by Morrow County Sheriff’s Deputy Clifford O’Connor. According to Morrow County Sheriff Steven R. Brenneman, O’Connor exited his cruiser and observed Myers, who was armed with a rifle. Myers continued to approach O’Connor even after being told several times to stop and drop his weapon.
“The subject continued to approach the officer with rifle in hand,” Brenneman said in a press release. “The deputy, being in fear of his own safety, fired at the subject with his patrol rifle striking him. At this time, it is not known how many times the subject was hit.”
O’Connor called for backup and medical personnel, then began to administer first aid. Myers was transported to Knox Community Hospital where he died from his wounds. An autopsy will be performed today by the Licking County Coroner.
O’Connor, who was not injured in the incident, has been with the MCSO for eight months.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of the cruiser. Sheriff David Barber would not comment this morning regarding details of the theft.
MCSO, KCSO and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation are investigating.
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