Wood Co. man indicted in rape of 2 young boys

12/22/2006

BOWLING GREEN A rural Bowling Green man involved in a three-hour standoff with Wood County sheriff s deputies last month was indicted by a Wood County grand jury on charges of raping two young boys.

Philip Harris, 35, was indicted on three counts of rape in the incidents that allegedly occurred between June, 2003, and June, 2004. Two of the counts carry specifications that Mr. Harris compelled his 12-year-old victims to submit by force or threat of force.

Mr. Harris has been held in the county jail since his arrest Nov. 28. He was taken into custody after deputies were called to his Georgetown Drive home, north of Bowling Green, on a report that he had a gun and was threatening to kill himself.

During the standoff, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn fired a shot in what he said was an attempt to shoot Mr. Harris s gun out of his hand. He missed, and an investigator appointed through the Buckeye State Sheriff s Association is now reviewing whether the sheriff violated any of his department s policies by firing during the standoff.