90°Family: Man shot by deputies was murdered
Jul 13
2010
BALLVILLE TWP.
Tracy and Kim Jones knew their son was troubled.
Bryan Jones, 26, was out of work, he couldn't see his 5-year-old son, and he abused alcohol to deal with his problems.
The young man had been on a two-day drinking binge when -- fed up -- his father called the sheriff's department at 9:46 p.m. Sunday.
Tracy and Kim said they thought deputies would force Bryan to get help.
They never imagined the officers would burst through their front door and shoot their son to death.
Calls for help
Deputies visited the house at 3445 Tiffin Road earlier that day at about 1:30 p.m. after family members called with concerns about his mental condition. When Bryan returned to the house later on, he threatened to kill his mom.
Tracy told the 911 dispatcher during the second call that Bryan, who was alone in the house, had access to firearms and those guns could be loaded.
According to Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer, deputies responded to the home again at 9:50 p.m.
Overmyer said the deputies tried to make contact with Bryan through the residence phone. They looked through the windows of the two-story farmhouse and saw Bryan sitting on the couch with a shotgun across his lap.
During that time Tracy asked deputies if he could talk to his son and encourage him to come out of the house. He said they refused, saying they wouldn't put Tracy at risk like that.
After waiting and watching for an hour and a half, deputies decided to end the standoff at 11:30 p.m.
Shots fired
Overmyer said the deputies shot flash-bangs -- a disorientation device that makes a loud noise and a flash of light -- into the residence.
A four-deputy tactical response team went into the residence. Seconds later Tracy heard multiple shots being fired.
Overmyer said two deputies discharged their weapons, but would not say how many shots they fired. He said the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation has been asked to assist with the investigation into the incident. Until that investigation is complete, he said, the two deputies, which he would not name, will be on paid leave.
Overmyer said he could not give out the names, as per instructions from county prosecutor Tom Stierwalt.
Stierwalt said later that Overmyer had sent him a question about releasing the names on Monday, and he had not gotten back to the sheriff. Stierwalt said the names are public record.
Follow-up calls made to Overmyer to obtain the names were not returned.
Overmyer also did not say if Bryan had fired a shot at the deputies, though he believed the young man had raised his gun at the deputies when they entered the residence.
Tracy said he heard six to seven shots all at once when the deputies burst into the house.
BCI spokesman Ted Hart said he could not provide details about the case. He said the bureau would do an investigation and provide the information it gathers to the sheriff's office and the county prosecutor.
He could not give a time frame on when the investigation might be completed, but said law enforcement agencies routinely seek the BCI's assistance.
'He was murdered'
Bryan's family and friends are outraged by what they're calling the young man's murder.
Tracy said if he could do it again, he would have never called 911.
"There is something wrong with this and if that does not come out of this situation, there is something wrong with the system," said Karen Root, Bryan's aunt.
She, along with dozens of friends and relatives, gathered for a candle light prayer service at the family's home Monday evening. The group prayed at a memorial set up in the front yard.
Bryan's school photo leaned up against the seat of a fishing boat he used to love, and against a tree surrounded by flowers and mementos.
"I'm hoping with God seeing us all together and Bryan's spirit seeing us all together (it) will give him a little bit of peace," Kim said, wiping tears from her wincing face. "We asked for help and instead he was murdered."
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02:26 PM
Sam says
Where were all of these supporters during this young man's life as he abused alcohol, was violent, and in general lead a less than positive lifestyle. How many of these supporters enabled him by their inaction or ignoring the problem. His death was unfortunate but does not change the fact of how he lived his life. On the day he choose to be intoxicated, made threats and raised a gun towards officers while they were attempting to do their difficult job, he choose his own destiny.. Thank god the officers were able to return to their families after during their job.
07:23 AM
Sam says
Clearly some of the posters should consider a 3rd attempt at 4th grade before posting on this or any article. I apologize to the other 4th graders.
01:14 AM
katelih says
Dont forget about their other brother , Darrell.
12:15 AM
hancrack me up says
Sam, yeah, thank god the gung ho unprofessional hick cops got out alive only to go screw up another future case. Matbe someone should really investigate officers Larry, Daryl & Daryl.
07:02 PM
Sam says
This a a tragic event where a young man lost his life, but as to be expected from this poor excuse of a newspaper they make the story about one of numerous officers involved. The young man was intoxicated, had made threats, had a history of violence and raised his gun towards the officers. Any hesitation by the officers could have resulted in the death of an officer only trying to do his job. Now the parents attempt to place blame on others, my question, did they ever enable this young man, bail him out of trouble, make excuses for him, if so they are part of the problem. Thank god all of the officers went home to their families.
03:22 PM
dbstr says
Have any of you listened to the end of that 911 call where the dispatcher is speaking to an officer? She specifically tells the officer that Bryan has (4:33 in the call) threatened to "kill everybody and himself". I listened (as well as I could) to the 911 conversation between the dad and the dispatcher and I did not ever hear the dad say that his son had threatened to "kill everybody and himself". The dad did say Bryan threatened to kill his own mother, but no one else. What is interesting is @ 2:10 into the call the dispatcher says "I wanna get this clear, so I know exactly how to put this report in."
So, if you want to get the call clear, so you know how to put a report in, you probably shouldn't ad lib things that might cause even more concern or worry for the police reporting to the scene. Maybe I'm just not hearing the dad say it in the call, but I have listened to it several times and I do not hear it. Things like this are definite factors in how the responding officers handle things and shouldn't be ignored.
03:25 PM
starryeyes83 says
I beIEive the guy went out exactly as he planned, to help his family's financial gains, perhaps?
11:57 PM
Joker says
The Beatles said Happiness is a Warm Gun. Sadness is a cold shotgun pointed at police officers. That should be the eleventh commandment, "thou shalt not point thy firearm toward LE officers or thou shalt be kilt"
Edit: Salvatore, the parents called the cops. The onus is on them, if they think a mental health professional should have been called in then they should have called the appropriate hotline instead of calling Johnnie Lawman
11:34 PM
Salvatore says
If the young man that was killed was agitated, why agitate him more by barging in like a bunch of warriors? Why wasn't a mental health worker called to calm the man down? A 4 man tactical response team would not diffuse the situation but would only make it worse. The father was asking for help, not for a bunch of warriors go barging in and shoot his son. This was not a hostage situation.
08:47 PM
gemini logic says
For all of you who are second-guessing the police behavior, walk a mile in their shoes.
They put their lives on the line for us every day and they don't go around MURDERING civilians. (it has happened but not in this case).
The family is grief-stricken and grasping at straws to try and understand how this happened. They are not to blame for their son's choices. Choose the behavior, choose the consequences.
The Sandusky Register writes headlines to grab at your innermost fears to sell the paper. It's called shock and awe.
If you don't want to get shot by the police, don't be stupid and have a standoff with them. You'll lose.
08:18 PM
hancrack me up says
Cops out in that area were just itchin' to use up some of the cop equipment they had hangin' around the police officer station.
Instead of going buck wild with "flash bangs" (something that may set any crazy person off), why not use tear gas? Again, sounds like a case of hicks being hicks & (as usual) & lying. They easily could have got a relative on a bullhorn outside to talk to him. I don't buy "They didn't want to put Tracy at risk like that" thing.
08:06 PM
batman says
Why not use a stun gun if he was so intoxicated?
07:02 PM
soldat says
Hilltop......an adult male was drunk, holding a shotgun and made threats to kill family members. Your viewpoint is grossly distorted. Take some time and think a bit before you make irrational opinions/comments about how law enforcement personnel should handle this type of situation.
04:26 PM
devilsadvocate says
I feel sorry for all involved - this is the beginning of a long process. However, if someone points a gun at me, I would feel justification for shooting back. Does a police officer have to wait to be shot at and dead to shoot back? How would the headlines read if a policeman was killed? Evidently the father gave up talking to the young man and was concerned or else he would have never called the police. I criticize the SR for the "murder" headline.
03:44 PM
bellevuegirl says
So Hilltop, what would you have done differently? Waited for 6 hours on a chance that maybe he would answer the phone?
The deputies did the right thing by not allowing the father to enter the home. Had they allowed him to enter, and his son shot him, they would be at fault.
You can play the blame game all day in an attempt to justify this, but in reality the deputies played this by the book - in my own humble opinion.
03:08 PM
hilltop says
"During that time Tracy asked deputies if he could talk to his son and encourage him to come out of the house. He said they refused, saying they wouldn't put Tracy at risk like that."
Obviously, Tracy thought his son was worth the risk. I guess the risk was all Bryan's.
"After waiting and watching for an hour and a half, deputies decided to end the standoff at 11:30 p.m."
Gee, an hour and a half. What, did they have appointments or something? Shift change? Glad fire departments don't watch the clock like that.
"Overmyer said the deputies shot flash-bangs -- a disorientation device that makes a loud noise and a flash of light -- into the residence."
There you go, storm someone's home with things that look and sound like a weapon and expect someone with a weapon not to react in some way - brilliant.
"Overmyer also did not say if Bryan had fired a shot at the deputies, though he believed the young man had raised his gun at the deputies when they entered the residence."
In the end, the only guy who will know if threats were made will be Bryan. He was alone in the house - no one to harm but himself. The only people in a hurry were law enforcement. Would it have been different if it was the Sheriff's son?
02:34 PM
soldat says
#1......Don't abuse alcohol. If you do, the probability of a negative outcome for yourself and/or others increases.
#2.....Don't abuse alcohol and have loaded firearms in your home and/or in your possession. If you do, the probability of a negative outcome for yourself and/or others dramatically increases.
The family needs to look in the mirror. Where should the blame be placed? Hmmmmmmm.
01:29 PM
brutus smith says
Just a sad situation all the way around.
01:09 PM
will it ever end says
Register------you sicken me. I'm sure those deputies involved wish there could have been a different outcome. If I was Overmyer I wouldn't give you their names either. However, I'm sure you will get them and I'm sure you will write whatever you can to make each and everyone of them look bad!
12:17 PM
Julie R. says
This really is a horrible situation all the way around. It's not only the parents that will have to live with this for the rest of their lives so will the cops that killed him.
12:16 PM
gene44870 says
Its a shame that had to happen , But if they told him they were there and he didn t put the gun down , who is to say for sure what would have happened ? I mean there could have been more people hurt or killed .
I would say to anyone that has a gun , that if the police come to your house , and let you know they are police and you dont put down your gun , then you have to expect there is a chance that its not going end peaciable , like we all would like .
My payers are with the family , and I just hope the family can find peace somehow .
You have to know that if you have a gun , and the police are called , then they are going to defend themsselves , and the public at large
Who is to say what this guy had in his heart .No one can say with all certainilty what he might or might not have in his heart for a outcome .
And no matter what happens he is gone and nothin can bring him back
11:59 AM
lakeside_living74 says
I feel bad for the family, but they are the one's that called for help. Chongo said it best: Overmyer also did not say if Bryan had fired a shot at the deputies, though he believed the young man had raised his gun at the deputies when they entered the residence. So for those of you that are blaming the police they shouldn't have fired, would you not shoot someone if they pointed a gun at you? Bryan had all ready threatened his parents with the gun! Oh, for the same ones' that are against the police, did you fail to comprehend that Bryan had been drinking? A drunk guy who threatend his parents with a gun? It is amazing that the situation didn't turn out worse. I am not saying that Bryan deserved to be gunned down, but none of us readers were inside the home when all of this took place. In a way, I blame the parents for the situation. If Bryan had "issues", they should have gotten him help, or the very least lock the guns up.
"TO PROTECT AND SERVE"
The police served Bryan's parents when they called. They protected them from Bryan (remember they called because he had threatened them), and the general public from hostilities that could have gotten much worese at any point. The police did their job.
09:23 AM
Pete says
Overmyer also did not say if Bryan had fired a shot at the deputies, though he believed the young man had raised his gun at the deputies when they entered the residence.
That's about all it takes if this is true. If I was the officer and someone raised a shotgun towards me, end of discussion
Edit: Chongo beat me to it!
09:10 AM
chongo says
Overmyer also did not say if Bryan had fired a shot at the deputies, though he believed the young man had raised his gun at the deputies when they entered the residence
If this is true, case closed. If you are an officer, entering an environment that you are unfamiliar with and knowing so that the person in question could be armed, I commend the officers for their actions. You enter the house without any clue what's going on, they have to think of their saftey. Public officials, asked to help out a private citizen, in a case where they can do only what they can. Their job is to difuse the situation(s) as best as possible, but in any case, if they feel their lives are in danger they have to take action. I do not clame to know what happened inside, so I'm saying this only as my oppinion of what may have happened. But if this did go down as thought it was, then I have no problem with them blowing this guy away.
Gob Bless or Officers, the hardest/mosst underpaid job in the country closely followed by teachers...
09:07 AM
Taxpayer says
Come on! Take a look how this "story" is being presented. This type of rubbish only attracts newspaper sales. Once AGAIN the SR presents the news in a sad and terrible way. "Oh how terrible and brutal the police were in MURDERING someone." Here are the facts, if this guy was unemployed, HOW could he afford to be soaked up for TWO DAYS? If he were so wonderful, WHY did his own father call LE to take him away? So while living back at home with your parents, the thankful thing to do is cause them to get "fed up" and be miserable?? WHY was he NOT allowed to see his son?? MENTAL problems?? So WHY did he have firearms in his possession? Did LE INVITE themselves to this party??? WHO initiated this entire situation?? "Tracy said if he could do it again, he would have never called 911." Obviously there was concern enough to call LE because of all these KNOWN conditions, but now deputies are MURDERERS! And how about the paper making a BIG thing about the NAMES of the deputies involved. I believe the paper and their malarkey type investigative reporting would do better trying to find out what is going on at the Erie County Court House. How about looking into the LIVES of candidates running for elected office? Oops, all liberal democrats are exempt. Ha! Ha! The SAME type of reporting has gone on for decades against the fire departments and police. Fire department personnel and police require counseling when they witness the death of someone. I am sure the Sandusky County Sheriff's Department also wish Tracy NEVER called 911. It is incredible that the SR and these poor people love to BLAME everyone else but the individual person RESPONSIBLE for this entire incident. Typical BLAME. Don't forget, what is the objective? Try to save a newspaper.
08:41 AM
starryeyes83 says
Silvereagle,
That thought crossed my mind too, which I stated on the earlier headline. He was making threats against both of his parents, then they said he was sleeping when the cops arrived. something doesn't make sense, Of course, the cops are going to get blamed. We will never know thw whole truth of what went down in that house.
08:38 AM
bellevuegirl says
RE: iamrevolutionary
Overmyer said the deputies tried to make contact with Bryan through the residence phone. They looked through the windows of the two-story farmhouse and saw Bryan sitting on the couch with a shotgun across his lap.
If you read the article - they DID attempt to talk to him. He would not answer.
If you listen to the 911 audio, his father said something along the lines of - if the police were called he would fight like hell. So:
Your kid is threatening to kill your wife so you call the cops. Your kid who said to you if the police were called, he would fight gets shot after the cops entering the house.......hmmmm - that's a no-brainer. Pretty obvious to me, the this man did exactly what he said he would do - fight.
If I were an officer and someone who had a gun, and had been threatening to kill people and fight the cops, jumped up and aimed at me I would have responded in the same way.
So, for anyone who chooses to post negative comments regarding the deputies, think about it. This man was NOT murdered. It is pretty darn obvious that his family now feels guilty for calling in the first place.
Think, for one minute, how terrible these deputies must feel. Have a little empathy for them. They will have to live for the rest of their lives with this. Officers are NOT trained to kill. They are not numb to the feelings that the rest of us have. Can you honestly say that they aren't sorry for what transpired?
My condolences go to the family of this disturbed man, and my thoughts are also with the officers who had to deal with a situation such as this.
07:13 AM
silvereagle_1 says
what a sad tragedy!! my condolences. did anybody consider that he was going for the "suicide by cop" thing so that his family could sue.
03:23 AM
Joker says
Your son threatened to kill YOU and NOW you're saying deputies murdered HIM? I'm going to assume that your grief is blinding your judgement. If you still feel the same several months down the road, you're either a nutter or just plain dumb!!!!!!!
02:41 AM
iamrevolutionary says
Like I said in the other article...Did the police NOT try to talk to him FIRST?! My question was answered...Apparently NOT!!
1 1/2 hrs. and NO conversation?! I find that hard to believe! If true, then there is something DRASTICALLY wrong with this scenario...
G/B the Family........