TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle shared details during a Tuesday morning news conference about last week's shooting of an armed suspect in downtown Toledo.
As is typical after officer shootings, the chief shared body-camera video of the incident and discussed details of the case.
Troendle identified the man who was shot Oct 26 as Darnell Peppers, 23, of Toledo. Peppers is not legally allowed to carry a gun because of previous convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and domestic violence, the chief said.
Troendle identified the officer who shot Peppers as Officer Patrick Fisher, 41, who has been with the department since 2013 and has one disciplinary report in his file.
The incident began when officers noticed that Peppers along Cherry Street near Vistula Manor Thursday afternoon and noted he was wearing an unusual amount of clothing for a warm day, Troendle said. They then noticed a bulge in his hoodie pocket that looked like a weapon, the chief said.
Officers were concerned because Peppers was walking toward a crowded bus stop, the chief said. Officers also were concerned about a man with a gun downtown on a weekday when there are typically many people on city streets, Troendle said.
When officers attempted to stop Peppers to talk to him, he ran, police said.
The officer's body-camera video, played during Tuesday's news conference, showed a brief foot pursuit of Peppers, during which the officer yelled that the man had a weapon and ordered him to get down on the ground.
The video also showed that when the chase reached the front of the Blade building at the corner of North Superior and Orange Streets, the suspect turned toward the officer with the gun in his hand. The video then shows the officer shooting at the suspect.
"The officer has less than a second to decide what he's going to do," Troendle said.
Peppers suffered a graze wound to his thigh, police said.
Officer Fisher relied on his training and acted properly, the chief said.
"If you were out there that day, you saw the suspect was actually able to walk to the walk to the ambulance, so we're very lucky for this outcome, that there wasn't more severe injuries to the officer or the suspect, but the officer has to take actions when you have a suspect running downtown with a weapon in his hand," Troendle said.
Officers found a Ruger 9mm gun on Peppers, Troendle said. The gun was loaded with 17 rounds, one of which was in the chamber, he said.
Officer Fisher was placed on administrative leave after the shooting and was interviewed about the incident Monday.
Asked about Ohio's open-carry law, which allows people to legally carry guns, the chief said officers still must protect the public's safety and may approach people carrying weapons to speak with them.
"You have to assume there is a gun in every car," Troendle said. "You almost have to assume that everyone has a gun."
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