CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Cincinnati city leaders said Wednesday that Tuesday's fatal shooting of a St. Bernard man by Cincinnati Police in Spring Grove Village was not excessive use of force.
"I will tell you the Cincinnati Police Department acted according to their training," Mayor Mark Mallory said during a news conference at police headquarters Wednesday.
The mayor and Police Chief Tom Streicher cited dramatic security and police car camera pictures of the deadly confrontation that matched accounts of 11 police officer interviews and statements from 46 civilian witnesses.
"All of the actions of the officers are in compliance with the policies and procedures of this department, and all of it is verified on film," said Chief Streicher.
Randolph Ward was shot multiple times after he fired three bullets at an officer who was trying to apprehend him.
Police officials said he had two open probation violation warrants, plus a traffic capias.
They added Ward was having trouble finding a job because of those run-ins with the law.
"The day ended in tragedy because of the decisions made by Mr. Ward," the Mayor added. "Officers showed restraint at many opportunities and there were many opportunities for him to surrender. He chose not to do that."
The five minutes that led to Ward's death began in a routine manner around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Ward was driving north on Spring Grove Avenue when he turned right onto Clifton Avenue and quickly changed lanes in front of a police cruiser driven by Officer Greg Toyeas.
Officer Toyeas' in-car camera shows him honking his horn at Ward, then initiating a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Kroger store on Kenard Avenue.
Once Ward's vehicle came to a halt, Officer Toyeas zoomed the camera in on the license plate, then returned to a wide shot, got out of his cruiser and went to the driver's side of Ward's car.
Ward gave him the name of his brother, Reggie Clay, and further aroused Officer Toyeas' suspicion when he gave conflicting answers to several questions.
Things turned ugly when Officer Toyeas asked Ward step out of the vehicle. Ward refused and reached for something on the seat.
"Don't reach! Don't reach!," Officer Toyeas demanded, pulling his service revolver while backing away from Ward. "Get out of there."
All of a sudden Ward bolted through the driver's side door with a gun in his right hand.
"Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" Officer Toyeas demanded.
Ward refused and started running away with the officer in pursuit.
Chief Streicher said some people might wonder why Officer Toyeas didn't shoot Ward right there.
Toyeas told the Chief that because Ward didn't point the gun directly at him, he didn't pose a direct threat.
"There's a tremendous amount of self-control that's involved here in this situation," the Chief said.
As Ward ran between the store and a 15-foot tall embankment, Sgt. Pete Watts spotted him pointing his gun in the direction of pursuing officers.
Sgt. Watts fired two shots at Ward, but missed, and Ward disappeared over railroad tracks and down the other side of the embankment.
That put him on a direct path toward a two-person crew changing the tire on a backhoe.
Ward pointed the gun at the pair and tried to steal their truck. That failed because the rear liftgate had been lowered to the ground.
Instead, Ward tried to hide in the cab.
However, Officer Shyane Schneider, who had been waiting for Ward to head toward Spring Grove Avenue, spotted him.
She approached the truck and fired one Taser cartridge at Ward.
It didn't have any effect. She reloaded and fired another Taser round.
Asked why Officer Schneider didn't have her service revolver drawn, Chief Streicher recalled what she told him.
"She knows that shots have already been fired. She knows he's had a gun, but when she engages him she does not see a weapon in his hand," the Chief said. "So she doesn't have that level of fear that she's in grave danger."
That quickly changed.
Ward pulled his revolver and aimed it directly at Officer Schneider, who ducked out of the way.
Three shots rang out in her direction.
As that was occurring, Officer Jerome Enneking was approaching the truck from the passenger side and Officer Kevin Newman rushed to the driver's side.
Seeing Officer Schneider in harm's way, both fired their service revolvers – Enneking four times and Newman 13.
Ward slumped over on the seat, fatally wounded.
"Kevin Newman runs directly into the line of fire. That's incredibly brave," Chief Streicher commented.
Once the shooting stopped, Officer Newman's emotions kicked in about what had transpired.
Chief Streicher said Newman didn't know whether to laugh, celebrate or cry – and he wouldn't call his wife.
"Tell me what you're thinking right now," Chief Streicher asked Newman.
"My wife is nine-months pregnant," he replied.
"Well, we don't want a baby born on the kitchen floor," the Chief replied, and sent officers to Newman's home to gently break the news of what had happened.
All five officers drew praise from police department leaders for their actions on Tuesday and will be recommended to receive the first Medals of Valor that the departmeOfficial say images support theory that Randolph Ward's death was not excessive use of forcent is creating.
"Despite the fact that there's a weapon and despite the fact that shots have been fired, nobody backs off," the Chief added.
Mayor Mallory asked that the community remember that there is help available for any and all problems.
"There is not a circumstance that requires a young person to draw a firearm on a Cincinnati Police Officer in an attempt to deal with whatever issues they have," Mallory stated.
