Summary

Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher used cruiser cam video and surveillance camera video on Wednesday to show how a deadly shootout between officers and a suspect in Spring Grove Village occurred.Streicher says the actions of five officers when they fatally shot 27-year-old Randolph Ward on Tuesday followed department use of force guidelines.Police say it all started when Officer Greg Toyeas pulled Ward over for a traffic violation in the parking lot of the Kroger store on Kenard Avenue. You can see Ward cut off Officer Toyeas on the cruiser cam video before he is pulled over.Streicher says Officer Toyeas became suspicious of some of the answers Ward gave to routine questions. The officer asked Ward how old he was and he responded 19. Ward told Officer Toyeas he didn't know his social security number or have a driver's license. When asked how long he had his tattoos, Ward said seven years. Officer Toyeas says to Ward that means you got the tattoos when you were 12 years old.Officer Toyeas then asks Ward to step out of the vehicle to which he refuses. As Officer Toyeas attempts to get Ward out of the vehicle, he notices Ward has a gun and yells "don't reach, don't reach." At that point, Ward gets out of the vehicle and runs behind a building with the gun in his right hand.A foot chase ensues.Police say Ward ran over a hill, over some railroad tracks and down into a gravel area where two men were changing a tire on a truck. According to police, Ward tries to get into the truck but a hydraulic stabilizer was in place preventing the vehicle from moving. Officer Shyane Schneider spotted Ward in the truck, fires her taser at him twice, but he pulled the gun and fired several shots. At that point, specialist Jerry Enneking and Officer Kevin Newman fired a total of 17 shots into the vehicle, fatally wounding Ward.According to Streicher, Ward fired three shots at police."Despite shots being fired, nobody backs off," Streicher said. He says the five officers ran into harm's way and "could easily be dead today."Mayor Mark Mallory also spoke at the news conference. He says it should have been a routine traffic stop and that, "The day ended in tragedy because of the decisions by Mr. Ward."Police say Ward was wanted for violating his probation for a weapons conviction.Ward's mother, Christel Johnson, says her son was worried about going back to jail and missed probation appointments because he could not find a job.Johnson tells 9News Randolph sent a text message to his brother before the shooting asking him to care of her.When a reporter asked Streicher if Ward's actions constituted a "suicide by police," the police chief said "they don't know" and that it may be a "possibility," but the only person who knows is Mr. Ward.Streicher says he will recommend that the five officers involved in the incident be recommended for the department's First Valor awards.