Columbiana coroner rules suicide in 2008 shooting death

LISBON — Columbiana County Coroner Dr. William Graham Jr. said today he has ruled the death of a prisoner a suicide.

Jason E. Miller, 38, of McDonald Street, East Liverpool, shot himself with a .357-caliber pistol after his hands were handcuffed behind him and he was placed in the back seat of a police cruiser in St. Clair Township.

The shooting occurred about 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008.

Miller, who had struggled with drug abuse, had been picked up by authorities on a minor charge.

Two officers from St. Clair Township Police Department were searching Miller’s jacket outside the cruiser when the shot was fired.

Other police agencies investigated the shooting.