Man shot by police charged

ST. MARYS - A 62-year-old man wounded by officers Wednesday night was armed with a BB/pellet rifle when police fired at him in front of his home.

Brad L. Scheer was shot at 601 Derrick Street shortly after 10 p.m. after making a threatening 911 call minutes earlier. Alcohol reportedly is a factor in the shooting.

Authorities have not released where Scheer was shot or how many times; his injuries were described as non-life-threatening. He reportedly did not fire his weapon at the officers.

St. Marys Police Officer Luke Turpin - a five-year veteran - and Auglaize County Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Price - with two years on the force - fired a combined maximum of five shots at Scheer as he raised a long-handled rifle in their direction, authorities said at a press conference this morning. Both officers remain on administrative leave.

Scheer, who was alone at the rental home, was treated at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, and released Sunday. He was immediately taken to jail and charged in Auglaize County Municipal Court with one count of aggravated menacing. Authorities say he could face additional charges after the case is reviewed by the county prosecutor.

St. Marys Interim Police Chief Tim Eberle said Scheer is no stranger to law enforcement.

"Our agency has had contact with him before," he said.

Some of the most recent charges filed against Scheer include criminal damaging, drunken driving, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, attempted suicide while on probation, telephone harassment and using weapons while intoxicated.

The incident Wednesday began when Scheer called 911 at 10:04 a.m. and stated, "I'm going to shoot the first cop (that) comes over here. Don't you understand (expletive) English?"

The dispatcher asked him "... what's the problem?" He responded, "I threw my trash on the road."

The dispatcher tried to clarify his statement.

"You threw your trash on the road?

Scheer appeared to become more irritated.

"And they can't pick it up. (Expletive) 'em," he said.

Eberle and Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon would not speculate if Scheer was trying to prompt officers to shoot him in a "suicide by cop" scenario. They strongly defended the officers' actions at the scene.

"I believe our officers did exactly as they were trained to do and I stand by them 100 percent," Eberle said.

Solomon said no further information will be released about the incident to protect the integrity of the case, which is being handled by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification.