Ohio Trooper Couldn’t Shoot Unarmed Driver

Thu., Feb. 20, 1997

Associated Press

It would have been easy for the trooper to shoot a fugitive who drove away after a companion had fired at a sheriff’s deputy.

The trooper’s gun was, at one point, only a foot from the driver’s head.

But the State Highway Patrol said Wednesday the driver did not appear to be armed - and agency policy forbids troopers from shooting at anyone except in a life-threatening situation.

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