Trumbull deputy honored by state sheriffs’ group

The man who fired on Diehl had a blood-alcohol level of 0.23 and had drugs in his system.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association has awarded the medal of honor to Anthony Diehl, a Trumbull County deputy sheriff, for his actions during a Dec. 22, 2007, call in which Diehl killed a Farmdale man who fired a handgun twice at the deputy.

Ernie Cook, sheriff’s department chief deputy, said Diehl received the award last week. He said Diehl is the first county deputy to receive the distinction, and it is the highest honor given to a deputy sheriff.

Cook said the honor is given to a deputy who acts above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of his own life.

“It was a textbook example of proper use of deadly force,” Cook said.

County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation showed that Diehl, an 11-year veteran, responded twice to 6868 Bazetta Road. The first time, he found nothing.

The second time, about 1 a.m., he found a man and woman removing items from the home and walked up the driveway with his flashlight on. He saw the man, John W. McGrath, 48, coming out the front door.

McGrath was carrying a black box toward a truck parked in front of the garage.

“Sheriff’s department! What are you doing?” Diehl yelled at McGrath, who threw the box into the bed of the truck.

McGrath, in one quick motion, turned around, pulled a handgun and fired a shot at the deputy.

“What are you doing?” Diehl yelled again and fired a shot at McGrath, who fired a second time at Diehl.

The deputy fired a second time at McGrath, hitting him with a fatal shot to the chest.

A neighbor corroborated Diehl’s account of the events.

McGrath’s toxicology report showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.23, or about three times more than the legal limit of 0.08, and he had various drugs, including cocaine, in his system.

The woman with McGrath that night told investigators that her estranged husband lived at the house and she went there with McGrath to retrieve personal items.

“In this case, the officer had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the danger since McGrath opened fire on the officer,” Watkins said.