Beaver, OH - Burglary Suspect Steals Pike Co. Sheriff's Patrol Car - Shot And Killed By Deputy - Crashed Into Church
Burglary Suspect Killed In Confrontation With
Deputies
Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:12 PM
WBNS 10 Tv
BEAVER, Ohio — A man who was wanted for forcing his way into a Columbus home
and threatening to harm the homeowners was killed Thursday during a
confrontation with sheriff's deputies.
Steven R. Kirk was pronounced dead at the scene, 10TV's Brittany Westbrook
reported.
Witnesses told 10TV News that Kirk was recognized walking down the street and
sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the scene.
"He put his hands up, and then the cop got out of the car and told him to get on
the ground, and he wouldn't get on the ground," said Nathaniel Spencer, who saw
the confrontation.
Spencer told 10TV News that when a deputy tried to arrest Kirk, the fugitive
produced a knife and forced the deputy to back away.
"(Kirk) decided to grab a knife out of his pocket, and whenever he grabbed the
knife and pulled it out, he started running toward the cop," Spencer said. "It
backed the cop up far enough where (Kirk) could get in the (deputy's cruiser)."
According to investigators, Kirk was shot by the deputy when he tried to
drive off in the cruiser. Kirk crashed the vehicle into a church.
"As he was going to get in the car, the cop fired off maybe three or four
warning shots at him," Spencer said. "(Kirk) went to take off in the car, and
(the deputy) shot two or three (more) times."
Pike County Sheriff Richard Henderson told 10TV News the deputy suffered minor
injuries in the confrontation. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and
Investigation is examining the circumstances of the shooting.
"(The deputy) will be put on administrative leave at this point, and BCI will
handle it as far interviewing him," Henderson said.
Kirk was added to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers' most wanted list in April after
he allegedly broke into the Torrey Hill Drive home on the Far West side.
Stay with 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information