by Andrew Schunk
Editor
Twinsburg " Bedford Heights police arrested Ashford Thompson, 23, of Glenwood Drive, July 13 in connection with the fatal shooting of Twinsburg Police Officer Joshua Miktarian.
According to Twinsburg Police Officer Tom Austin, another person was in the vehicle driven by Thompson at the time of a traffic stop that preceded the shooting. The passenger's identity is not being released, Austin said, and no other details are being disclosed.
Specific charges against Thompson were not immediately known July 14. He was scheduled to be arraigned by video the afternoon of July 14 from Summit County Jail, where he is being held, and his case is expected to be bound over to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, according to police.
According to police, Miktarian, 33, was shot in the head and killed just before 2 a.m. July 13, following a traffic stop of Thompson.
Miktarian's death was the first of a Twinsburg police officer in the line of duty in the 53-year history of the department, according to Twinsburg police.
The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office has ruled Miktarian's death a homicide, according to Director of Public Affairs Powell Caesar. Miktarian died from "multiple gunshot wounds to the head," Caesar said.
A joint investigation into the shooting between the Twinsburg Police Department and the Summit County Sheriff's Office is ongoing.
Details of fatal shooting
Police say Miktarian, an 11-year K-9 officer with the city, pulled over Thompson for suspicion of loud music and operating a vehicle under the influence near Thompson's home in the 2400 block of Glenwood Drive.
According to Austin, Miktarian stopped Thompson's vehicle at 1:54 a.m. and requested assistance over the radio at 1:56 a.m. A 911 call was placed "at nearly the same time" by a resident from the same block of Glenwood Drive to Twinsburg dispatch, Austin said.
"The 911 caller reported hearing shouting between two people and popping sounds," he said.
At 1:57 a.m. a "status check" of Miktarian was radioed from Twinsburg dispatch to Miktarian's cruiser. There was no response from the officer, Austin said.
Officers from Twinsburg and surrounding communities immediately responded to the scene, where they discovered Miktarian on the ground near his cruiser.
Miktarian was taken by medical helicopter to Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, where he was pronounced dead at 2:48 a.m., according to Twinsburg police.
Bagio, the K-9 German Shepard that teamed with Miktarian, was found in the back of Miktarian's cruiser and was uninjured, according to police.
According to police, Thomspon had fled the scene but was apprehended at 2:41 a.m. by Bedford Heights police at a home on Cambridge Road in Bedford Heights.
A firearm of unknown caliber was recovered as evidence, said Twinsburg Police Officer Tom Austin, and a set of Miktarian's handcuffs was attached to one of Thompson's wrists when Bedford Heights police took him into custody.
Officer was father, owner of pizzeria
Prior to joining the Twinsburg force Feb. 24, 1997, Miktarian had worked as a police officer in Uniontown. He had recently resumed part-time police work in Uniontown.
Miktarian graduated from Tallmadge High School in 1993 and lived in Tallmadge with his wife, Holly, an Oakwood police officer, and 3-month-old daughter, Thea.
Friends say Miktarian owned a Gionino's Pizza establishment in Sagamore Hills, and enjoyed playing in his rock band, Barium.
Funeral arrangements will be announced soon, according to police, and donations can be made to any Fifth Third Bank in care of the Twinsburg Police Association, Austin said.
A vigil is planned for 9 p.m. July 14 at Government Center, according to organizer Mary Papa. A police chaplain will be speaking, a bugle player from the Cleveland Heights Police Department will perform taps, and there will be memorial speeches.
For more images from a sunset vigil and updates on this story, see the July 17 Twinsburg Bulletin.
E-mail: aschunk@recordpub.com
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