Pursuit, shooting suspect remains at large in Harrison County

A police pursuit that began with a Harrison County sheriff’s deputy at about 11 a.m. remains active. 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 Decker 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 are 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.

“Law enforcement is currently searching for the subject, and drivers are asked to avoid the area at this time.”