It was a normal day in Sugarcreek on Wednesday, June 26, as the clippety-clop of horse hoofs hit the pavement down Main Street. The sun was shining. The cuckoo clock was just about to go off at the top of the hour.
However, at approx 10 a.m., a Sugarcreek Police Officer, whose name is being withheld until family has been notified as of 1:30 p.m., initiated a traffic stop involving a commercial vehicle at TMK Feed Service located on Second Street in Sugarcreek.
Details of the initial stop are not being released as the investigation is active.
However, audio communications from the stop indicate the suspect stabbed the officer. As a result, the officer shot the suspect.
The suspect is deceased. Information on the suspect’s identity has not been released as of 1:30 p.m.
Sugarcreek Fire and EMS responded to the scene where the officer was stabilized and transferred via EMS to MedFlight at Belden Brick Plant 8. The officer, identified as 37 yr old Brian Dalton was stable, but intubated at the time of take-off.
Per Sugarcreek Police Chief Kevin Kaser, a crew from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is on scene and will the lead on the investigation. They will recreate the scene and give a report of their findings.
The scene was secured by officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Department. Baltic’s Fire Chief, Jim Lorenz as well as a crew from Wayne Township Fire Department (Dundee) assisted with the landing zone set up.
Because it is an active investigation, the area has been marked off with Crime Scene tape as Tuscarawas County officials are on the scene. Please avoid the area of Broadway near the Sugarcreek Fire Department.