Officer injures hand while arresting suspect

3/1/2007

A Toledo police officer was hurt yesterday while trying to arrest a burglary suspect in East Toledo, Sgt. Mike McGee said.

Sgt. John Paskowski was treated at Toledo Hospital for a possible broken finger or hand, Sergeant McGee said.

The suspect, Michael Woodruff, 37, of 1160 Oak St., was being held in the Lucas County jail on charges that included aggravated burglary and resisting arrest.

Toledo police officers were searching the 600 block of Church Street about 9:30 a.m. after receiving complaints about two burglaries. Sergeant McGee said officers received a description of a suspect who matched Woodruff.

"[Woodruff] popped from between two houses and Sergeant Paskowski grabbed onto him and a fight started," Sergeant McGee said. "It was a brief fight, about a minute, and he broke one finger and maybe his hand [during the fight]. It was a compound fracture."

Woodruff managed to escape, but Sergeant McGee said he caught up with him soon afterward and was able to handcuff him.

Sergeant McGee said a witness to one of the burglaries was able to identify Woodruff.

Woodruff was released Feb. 7 from the Allen Correctional Institute, where he had been held for a burglary conviction, according to records from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.