Man accused of driving into officer

6/7/2014

A Toledo man is accused of hitting an Ottawa Hills police officer with his vehicle late Wednesday.

Dana Taylor, 56, of 2004 Sandown Rd. was arraigned Thursday in Toledo Municipal Court on charges including aggravated vehicular assault and driving under the influence of alcohol. He was being held in the Lucas County jail Friday in lieu of $100,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Thursday.

Officer Jason Schaetzke, 36, was struck on Bancroft Street east of Talmadge Road. Mr. Schaetzke was standing by his cruiser’s driver’s side along the westbound lane at 11:58 p.m., with emergency lights flashing, when a westbound sport-utility vehicle driven by Mr. Taylor struck him, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Ottawa Hills police Chief John Wenzlick said Officer Schaetzke had been helping a Toledo police crime-scene detectives collect evidence from a chase after a South Toledo shooting. Officer Schaetzke was treated at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, troopers said. Mr. Taylor was not hurt, and the Ottawa Hills police vehicle wasn’t damaged.

Mr. Taylor also is accused of having an open alcoholic-beverage container in his vehicle and failing to proceed with due caution upon approaching a stationary public safety vehicle with emergency lights activated.