A naked man wielding a “lengthy and pretty thick” homemade spear in Ohio was shot by deputies as he charged at them during an ambush attack, sheriff officials said Wednesday.
The suspect, who was not immediately identified, came within a “couple feet” of deputies when he was shot and wounded in Center Township after a woman called to report a naked man in his 50s pounding on her door, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies first received a report of a nearby suspected arson late Tuesday and responding investigators found the residence didn’t have any heat or electricity.
Hours later, a woman called deputies just after midnight to alert them to a naked man who was in the entryway of her home and trying to break in while yelling that he was stabbed and “wanted in,” sheriff officials said.
Deputies returned to the area where the suspected arson was reported along with Woodsfield police to find the naked suspect. Another person called 911 to report that someone had been trying to break into his home and ripped off screen doors to the residence.
Investigators couldn’t find the naked suspect at the second home, but continued to check nearby residences, where they tried to make contact with another homeowner. A “naked male” suspect then jumped out at the deputies and Woodsfield police in an ambush attack as they continued to look for him, sheriff officials said.
“This subject immediately charged the officers with the homemade spear and came within a couple feet of the officers before the suspect was shot,” department officials said in a statement.
Monroe County deputies and Woodsfield police gave first aid to the wounded man, who was taken to a hospital. His condition midday Wednesday was not immediately clear.
Details of the “homemade spear” were not provided by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, but the weapon is believed to have been sturdy enough to potentially cause serious injury.
Chief Deputy Jason Rinard told The Post during a brief phone interview that the spear was “lengthy and pretty thick.” He had no additional information to provide while referring additional inquiries to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which is probing the officer-involved shooting.
“BCI’s investigation remains active and ongoing,” spokesman Steve Irwin told The Post in an email. “I do not have any further details to share at this time.”