Reward increased to $2,500 in shooting suspect case
Lead Summary
By
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Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward announced at the Aug. 21 Highland County Board of Commissioners that an anonymous donor has contributed funds to increase the reward to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspect(s) involved in the shooting at a Highland County Sheriff’s Deputy on Monday, Aug. 19 near the Pike County/Highland County line.
The suspect vehicle is a dark colored, possibly gray late 1990s or early 2000s Dodge Stratus with a tail light assembly missing on the driver's side rear of the vehicle. The vehicle may have shotgun round damage on rear of vehicle. Vehicle may have had a temporary paper license plate in the rear deck of vehicle.
The first suspect (driver) is described as a white male in his late 20s. He has a 6’2” tall slender build, wearing glasses short beard/goatee. He was wearing a ball cap, jeans and a long-sleeved dark shirt with sleeves rolled up.
The second suspect (passenger) is described as a white male in his early 40s. He is about 5’8” tall with a stocky build with balding/short light colored hair and a thin growth of facial hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt.
On Monday, Aug. 20, Highland County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Putnam attempted to stop a dark-colored, possibly gray, late 1990 or early 2000s model Dodge Stratus with no visible license plates on SR 41 in Brushcreek Twp when the driver fled northbound on state Route 41. Just inside Pike County on state Route 41, the vehicle stopped in the roadway, and both driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The passenger then fired at least one round from a shotgun at the deputy, striking the hood, windshield and light bar of the patrol car. Occupants then fled in the vehicle northbound on SR 41 with Deputy Putnam pursuing.[[In-content Ad]]
The vehicle then turned on Dry Bone Rd. and onto Fairview Rd in Pike County and again stopped in the roadway. The vehicle then started to back up toward the patrol car. At that time, Deputy Putnam fired multiple rounds at the suspect(s) and the vehicle. It is believed that the vehicle was struck by the deputy’s shotgun rounds at or near the rear end of the vehicle. The vehicle then left southbound on Fairview Rd. Deputy Putnam continued to pursue the vehicle as surrounding agencies attempted to get units in the area to assist the Highland County Deputy. The suspect made several turns and entered Adams County, where the vehicle was last seen on Poplar Grove Rd., traveling southbound. Deputy Putnam was not injured as a result of the gunfire.
Highland County Sheriff’s Detectives are working with Pike County Sheriff’s Detectives and other surrounding counties law enforcement agencies following up on leads and information coming in regards to the case. Anyone with information of the whereabouts of the suspect vehicle or the suspects are encouraged to contact the Highland County Sheriff at 937-393-2212 or the Pike County Sheriff at 740-947-2111.
The suspect vehicle is a dark colored, possibly gray late 1990s or early 2000s Dodge Stratus with a tail light assembly missing on the driver's side rear of the vehicle. The vehicle may have shotgun round damage on rear of vehicle. Vehicle may have had a temporary paper license plate in the rear deck of vehicle.
The first suspect (driver) is described as a white male in his late 20s. He has a 6’2” tall slender build, wearing glasses short beard/goatee. He was wearing a ball cap, jeans and a long-sleeved dark shirt with sleeves rolled up.
The second suspect (passenger) is described as a white male in his early 40s. He is about 5’8” tall with a stocky build with balding/short light colored hair and a thin growth of facial hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt.
On Monday, Aug. 20, Highland County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Putnam attempted to stop a dark-colored, possibly gray, late 1990 or early 2000s model Dodge Stratus with no visible license plates on SR 41 in Brushcreek Twp when the driver fled northbound on state Route 41. Just inside Pike County on state Route 41, the vehicle stopped in the roadway, and both driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The passenger then fired at least one round from a shotgun at the deputy, striking the hood, windshield and light bar of the patrol car. Occupants then fled in the vehicle northbound on SR 41 with Deputy Putnam pursuing.[[In-content Ad]]
The vehicle then turned on Dry Bone Rd. and onto Fairview Rd in Pike County and again stopped in the roadway. The vehicle then started to back up toward the patrol car. At that time, Deputy Putnam fired multiple rounds at the suspect(s) and the vehicle. It is believed that the vehicle was struck by the deputy’s shotgun rounds at or near the rear end of the vehicle. The vehicle then left southbound on Fairview Rd. Deputy Putnam continued to pursue the vehicle as surrounding agencies attempted to get units in the area to assist the Highland County Deputy. The suspect made several turns and entered Adams County, where the vehicle was last seen on Poplar Grove Rd., traveling southbound. Deputy Putnam was not injured as a result of the gunfire.
Highland County Sheriff’s Detectives are working with Pike County Sheriff’s Detectives and other surrounding counties law enforcement agencies following up on leads and information coming in regards to the case. Anyone with information of the whereabouts of the suspect vehicle or the suspects are encouraged to contact the Highland County Sheriff at 937-393-2212 or the Pike County Sheriff at 740-947-2111.