Decker dies after hourslong manhunt in Harrison County

A police pursuit that began with a Harrison County sheriff’s deputy at about 11 a.m. March 30 remained active for several hours. It is not clear what prompted the deputy to attempt a traffic stop involving Michael Decker, 53, on U.S. 250, but authorities said that is when the first shots were fired and the pursuit began.

Detective Ron Carter of the Cadiz Police Department, who heads the K-9 unit, was in the second vehicle and joined the pursuit near the County Home. The chase continued onto U.S. 22, where the Ohio State Highway Patrol deployed spike strips, causing the car Decker was traveling in to crash into the median near Hopedale.

Carter said he exited his vehicle and was preparing to release his K-9 when Decker began firing at him, preventing Carter from returning fire. Carter said Decker also moved toward him while shooting.

Decker then fled into the woods across U.S. 22, where the terrain is heavily wooded.

A statement released by email at 5:30 p.m. from Lt. Brice A. Nihiser of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Strategic Communications Unit said troopers and Harrison County sheriff’s deputies were searching for a suspect in connection with an officer-involved shooting in Franklin Township.

“Steubenville Post troopers responded to an officer-involved shooting call on U.S. 250 near Eslick Road shortly after 11:35 a.m.,” the statement said. “Upon arrival, troopers located the subject’s vehicle nearby and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued.

“In an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle, a tire deflation device was deployed and the subject exited the vehicle near Old Hopedale Road. At that time, the subject fired multiple shots at troopers and ran into the nearby woods.”

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department later made a statement on Facebook that said, “The incident is over. There is no threat to the public now.”

After a nine-hour search for Decker, he was located in the woods between Mine Road and Black Road. Verbal commands were given by air units from the Patrol’s Aviation Section to Decker, which were not followed. While attempting to arrest Decker, a third officer-involved shooting occurred. Decker succumbed to his injuries.

Decker was shot by law enforcement.