ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Shooting Reported In Village, Gun Found




Police officers are still trying to sort out an alleged shooting incident that might have occurred on West Street between 11:45 pm, Saturday, June 4, and 12:10 am, Sunday, June 5, said Martin Schmidt, Archbold police chief.

Police stopped a car, questioned two male subjects, and recovereda9mmsemi-automatic handgun. The weapon was reported stolen Monday, June 6.

As of late last week, Schmidt said officers are still seeking witnesses and piecing together a timeline of events. Initial Report

At about 12:11 am Sunday, Archbold police officers responded to a report of shots fired from a vehicle. Officers were told the vehicle involved was a black compact car, but no registration was available.

Schmidt said officers began searching for the vehicle, and spotted taillights on Co. Rd. 24. They caught up to the car, and made a traffic stop on Co. Rd. 24 just south of Co. Rd. B-C, known locally as Short-Buehrer Road.

The two occupants of the vehicle were removed from the car and handcuffed. They agreed to allow officers to search the car. The search produced a Ruger P89DC handgun, a magazine for the gun, and seven hollow-point bullets.

The occupants were taken to the Archbold police station for questioning, and were later released. The passenger has been charged with possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, while the driver has been charged with driving while license suspended (for failure to reinstate a suspended license).

Police are not releasing the names of the two, pending possible further charges.

Schmidt said officers performed a gunshot residue test on one of the subjects. The test was sent to Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identifi cation and Investigation (BCI) for analysis. Stolen

Keith Bott, 501 North Defi ance Street, reported his handgun missing about 6:20 pm, Monday, June 6.

Bott described his missing gun as a Ruger P89DC; the serial number matches the gun recovered from the car.

He said the weapon was taken from his bedroom sometime between 8 am, Saturday, June 4, and 11:59 pm, Sunday, June 5.

Schmidt noted that when the gun was taken, it held 15 bullets, the full capacity of the P89. Only seven bullets were recovered.

As a semi-auto firearm, the P89 ejects spent shell casings. Schmidt said officers have recovered one spent 9 mm casing. They have not discovered any damage done by bullets, nor has anyone reported being struck by gunfire.–David Pugh



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *