Man indicted in West Toledo dragging death

Geoffrey Dupuis is arraigned in Toledo Municipal Court, Monday, June 13, 2011. He is charged with murder in connection with the death of Randall York.

A man who police accused of intentionally hitting and dragging another man 63 feet with a minivan was indicted Monday by a Lucas County grand jury.

Geoffrey Dupuis, 47, of 3335 West Laskey Rd., has been charged with murder stemming from the death Randall York, 55, of West Toledo.

Authorities said Mr. York was hit by the vehicle on June 11 after trying to stop the suspect and his son from fleeing the parking lot of the Speedway gas station at Secor and Laskey roads after a crime.

The suspect’s son, Jacob Dupuis, 18, was previously charged with assault for allegedly punching a customer in the gas station. They live at 3335 West Laskey Rd., just west of the gas station. Jacob Dupuis has since been released from the Lucas County jail, where his father remains.

The death was the eighth homicide in Toledo this year.

Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre said the older Mr. Dupuis put his minivan in drive, gunned the engine, and intentionally ran over Mr. York after the younger Mr. Dupuis was involved in an altercation shortly before 10:30 p.m. inside the station at 5010 Secor.

Chief Navarre said Mr. York had been at a fuel pump outside and witnessed the altercation between the younger Mr. Dupuis and a customer inside the station.

Authorities said Mr. York put his hands on the hood of the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette and stood in front of it to stop the driver and passenger from fleeing the parking lot before police arrived.

Mr. York was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lucas County Coroner Dr. James Patrick said Mr. York died of “massive head injuries.” A ruling in the death is pending the results of toxicology and other tests.