Posted: 11:41 pm EDT July 27, 2009
CARROLL COUNTY, Ohio -- A suspect is recovering from two gunshot wounds after deputies said they were forced to shoot him.
Investigators said the suspect fought with them, even dragged two deputies with a cruiser.
Ernest Reynolds has gunshot wounds to the shoulder and leg after one wild day with Carroll County authorities.
Sheriff Dale Williams said the whole thing started around noon when Reynolds broke into a home with Jimmy Shaw and Joseph Dalton.
"The truck was still backed in the garage. They were loading stuff and saw my deputy and tried to actually run over my deputy," said Williams.
The deputy was able to shoot out the tires and catch Shaw and Dalton, but Reynolds got away.
For hours, state patrol, Carrollton police and the Division of Wildlife helped deputies search for him.
Around 5:30 p.m. a neighbor spotted Reynolds along Roswell Road.
"The deputy tried to apprehend him and they got into a tussle," said Williams.
The sheriff said Reynolds tried to grab Lt. Calvin Graham's gun, then Sgt. Ron Clapper jumped in for back-up.
"[He] shoved the deputy away and the suspect got in the vehicle, the cruiser. He started up the road and drug the two deputies about 300 feet," said Williams.
The cruiser ended up in a ditch and the sheriff said Reynolds tried taking off on foot, but Sgt. Clapper fired and shot Reynolds twice.
"There's no bone damage. They're going to stitch him up and he'll be returned to the Carroll County jail," said Williams
Williams said he believes his deputies reacted properly given the circumstance