Man appeared to be armed before being shot by officers in Hancock County

BENTON RIDGE, Ohio — The person shot by law enforcement after he led authorities on a pursuit across three counties appeared to be armed and advancing toward officers, authorities said Tuesday.

The identity of the suspect was not immediately available. He was in custody Tuesday afternoon at Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, where his condition was unavailable.

The suspect reportedly was being pursued by Allen County sheriff's deputies on a felony arrest warrant. The suspect's vehicle came to a stop in the village of Benton Ridge where the suspect was shot, according to the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.

The chase went through Putnam County and entered Hancock County about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Hancock County Detective Sgt. Tom Blunk said.

The suspect lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a home in Benton Ridge before getting out of his vehicle and walking toward officers, Sergeant Blunk said.

"It appears at this time that as the officers were getting cover, still giving commands for the person to give up," the sergeant said. "He had something in his hand that he was holding up as he was going toward the officers."

Investigators are reviewing the dashboard cameras in the police cruisers involved in the chase, Sergeant Blunk said.

A Hancock County sheriff's deputy en route to the scene also was hurt when his cruiser crashed into a woman's passenger vehicle, Sergeant Blunk said.

The deputy was attempting to pass the woman's vehicle on State Rt. 12 near mile marker 6 when the woman attempted a left turn, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Both the deputy and the woman were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with injuries. Their names and conditions were not immediately released.

Hancock County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the incidents involving the suspect, while the Ohio Highway Patrol investigates the injury accident involving the cruiser en route to the suspect scene.

The most recent shooting incident involving a deputy in Hancock County was in 1988, Sergeant Blunk said. Likewise, village residents in Benton Ridge aren't used to gunfire being exchanged in their community.

"The village of Benton Ridge is a very quiet community and, yeah, it'd be safe to say a lot of the residents were up most of the night," he said.