Bellevue police fatally shoot city man

9/23/2010
BLADE STAFF

BELLEVUE, Ohio — Police shot and killed a Bellevue man who reportedly pointed a handgun at them Wednesday night.

James David, Sr., 60, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to the Lucas County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.

According to Bellevue police, a Greenwood Heights resident called police just before 10:30 p.m. and reported that a man was in the area brandishing a handgun. Officers located Mr. David sitting on the front porch of his Union Street house holding the gun.

Police said they identified themselves and the man stood up and ran toward the front door of the house. Officers said they ordered him to drop the weapon and stop, but he instead ran back toward the end of the porch and pointed the gun at police. Both officers, who have not been identified, then fired at Mr. David.

Police Chief Dennis Brandal said Mr. David had no prior criminal record and police had not received previous complaints involving him.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, the chief said.

This was the second fatal shooting by law enforcement officers in Sandusky County in recent months.

In July, Sandusky County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed Bryan Jones, 26, of rural Fremont after deputies were called to his parents' home on a report that Jones had been drinking for two days, had threatened to kill himself and family members, and was inside the house with guns.