A series of intense and alarming events unfolded on January 8, 2024, beginning with a troubling incident at Voyager Village mobile home park located off West Third Street. At 10:53 a.m., the manager of the mobile home park called 911 to report an incident involving a woman being struck by a white Ford pickup truck. According to records from the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center, the manager described the scene, stating that the driver, identified as the woman’s father, had attempted to run her over while she was seated on a bench. The manager further noted that the driver headed towards the back of the park after the incident and provided his personal details, as he had recently applied to reside in the community.
By 10:54 a.m., Trotwood police were dispatched to the scene. While officers were assisting the injured woman, the suspect was spotted driving past at high speed at 11:05 a.m., brandishing a long gun at the officers. Despite attempts to initiate a traffic stop, the suspect continued east on U.S. 35 and engaged in dangerous driving behavior, swerving into oncoming traffic by 11:06 a.m. and accelerating to 75 mph by 11:07 a.m.
The situation escalated as the suspect slowed to 40 mph at 11:09 a.m., exhibiting erratic behavior while traveling south on a connector. The vehicle passed Infirmary Road at 11:10 a.m., and moments later, shots were fired from the pickup at 11:11 a.m. The suspect reportedly had a shotgun and rifle inside the vehicle. At 11:12 a.m., the pickup executed a U-turn at U.S. 35 and Abbey Avenue to proceed west on U.S. 35, prompting a Signal 99 alert, which brought officers from multiple agencies to assist in the pursuit.
During the pursuit, the pickup ran over Stop Sticks at 11:12 a.m. at U.S. 35 at Liscum Drive. Further shots were fired at officers as the suspect pointed a rifle out the window at the same time. The chase reached a critical point at 11:13 a.m. when the suspect crossed all lanes on U.S. 35 and collided head-on with a Trotwood police cruiser and a Montgomery County Sheriff’s cruiser. Fortunately, the deputy within managed to jump to safety before the impact.
At 11:14 a.m., police returned fire, hitting the suspect. Both the suspect and a Trotwood officer injured in the crash were transported to Miami Valley Hospital, with the officer being driven by cruiser. Homicide investigators were on the scene by 11:22 a.m., and U.S. 35 was closed between Infirmary Road and Abbey Avenue for an indefinite period starting at 11:31 a.m. for a thorough investigation.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrived at 12:16 p.m. to manage the officer-involved shooting, as requested by the Dayton Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. While BCI released the crime scene later, the crash investigation and cleanup continued, with U.S. 35 reopening at 8:13 p.m., more than eight hours after the initial report in Trotwood.
In the aftermath, it was reported that the suspect’s daughter suffered minor injuries from being struck by the pickup. Trotwood police officer Michael Richardson, injured in the crash, has since recovered from his injuries.
Community Impact
This sequence of events on January 8 highlights the potential for rapid escalation in emergency situations and underscores the importance of effective law enforcement response. Residents of the Voyager Village mobile home park and the broader community were likely affected by the disruption to daily life and traffic, as well as the heightened sense of insecurity stemming from the incident.
The involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies and the swift response helped ensure public safety and maintain order in a chaotic situation. The closure of U.S. 35 for several hours would have impacted local commuting and transportation, causing delays and necessitating alternative routes. These events also bring to light the potential risks and challenges faced by law enforcement officers during high-stakes confrontations, emphasizing the need for continued training and resources to manage such scenarios effectively.