By Margie Wuebker
mwuebker@dailystandard.com A $1 million cash bond has been requested in the case of a Franklin County man who allegedly attempted to harm law enforcement officers with a razor knife last weekend.
Ricky Driskill, 27, of Columbus, faces two counts of felonious assault on a peace officer, both first-degree felonies, and one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony.
Driskill, who was shot in the stomach after lunging at Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Doug Timmerman with a knife, is expected to be released this weekend from Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton.
He apparently will be served with court paperwork upon his release and a subsequent appearance in Celina Municipal Court could take place early next week.
The shooting occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. April 30 after Driskill had been involved in two traffic accidents. After the first one, which occurred at 11:50 a.m. near Burkettsville, he allegedly took a pickup truck belonging to an area man who came to the scene as a first responder. Driskill, who apparently has no ties to Mercer County, later drove through a farm field unaware the Wabash River snaked through the area. He drove over one embankment and crashed into the other.
Law enforcement officers looking for the suspect spotted a man walking across a field off Dull Road and approached after they spotted him laying down in what they said appeared to be an unsuccessful attempt to avoid detection.
Driskill allegedly held Timmerman and two other police officers at bay with a construction-type knife also known as a box cutter. He fell after being shot but continued to wave the weapon while inching toward the men. He refused to put it down as ordered despite pepper spray and several raps from a police baton. He finally was subdued after throwing the box cutter at Coldwater Patrolman Randy Waltmire but missing its intended target.
The Columbus man was taken by ambulance to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, where a surgeon removed a single 9-mm bullet from the left abdominal area. Tests performed later indicated the presence of a reported neck injury necessitating transfer to the Dayton hospital.
It is believed the injury occurred during the second accident, according to Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey. He could not confirm rumors that Driskill has been fitted with a neck brace as a result of the injury.
Authorities do not know why Driskill, who relatives describe as a successful computer software salesman, was in the area. They are also awaiting the results of toxicology tests that would indicate whether he had used drugs or alcohol prior to the incident.
Timmerman, who sustained a hand injury in the struggle, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion of an investigation headed by Lts. Matt Grunden and Martin Emerine of the sheriff's office. Grey, who expects the final report within the next few days, told The Daily Standard preliminary indications show the deputy acted within department policy. |
