Suspect falls through apartment ceiling during arrest in Uhrichsville on Saturday

UHRICHSVILLE ― A wanted man fell through the ceiling of an apartment on Saturday while officers from two police departments were in the process of arresting him on multiple warrants.

Uhrichsville police Officer Codi Stark gave this account of the incident that took place at 650 Claymont Drive:

He and fellow Uhrichsville Officer Colin Hickey went to the apartment with Dennison Officer Anthony Frame to try to find and arrest the suspect.

The female resident allowed officers to search her apartment, claiming that the wanted man wasn’t there. Officers searched the apartment but did not find the suspect inside. However, an attic access was discovered in a bedroom closet and the panel was pushed aside. Officers had previously received information that the wanted man would climb into that attic and hide from police.

Stark and Hickey entered the attic, where they soon found the wanted male near the middle of the apartment building attic, hiding under insulation with only his face exposed. After the suspect was given many verbal commands but refused to comply, Stark discharged one Taser cartridge, making contact with the suspect. Hickey gained physical control of the suspect, placing him in handcuffs, then began escorting him through the attic.

While escorting him through the center of the attic, the suspect seemingly tried sitting down but sat down directly onto the ceiling drywall which unfortunately was not able to support his weight. The drywall gave way and the suspect then fell through the ceiling, landing in the upstairs hallway of a neighboring apartment which was occupied by a family. The family was unharmed, though their apartment was obviously damaged. The suspect tried to escape, running through the apartment and outside where Frame was waiting for him. Hickey jumped down through the hole in the ceiling where he and Frame quickly gained control of the suspect. Stark jumped through the hole in the ceiling and assisted the other officers. Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived on scene and assisted as needed.

The Uhrichsville Fire Department took the suspect to Twin City Medical Center in Dennison for medical clearance for the jail. The suspect was later taken to the Tuscarawas County jail and held on his multiple arrest warrants as well as multiple new criminal charges.

"Though we will not be giving the name of the family to whom (the suspect) made his unannounced visit, the Uhrichsville Police Department would like to give our sincerest apologies to the family for this massive inconvenience and the stress this incident has caused," Stark wrote.