OSHP continues to investigate Weathersfield shooting incident

Staff report

SOUTHINGTON

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Office of Criminal Investigation is nearing completion of its analysis into the March 23 confrontation between a Weathersfield Township police officer and a driver on West Park Avenue in Weathersfield.

Sgt. Ronald Schneider said investigators still are waiting for reports from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab and still is conducting interviews this week.

When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office to determine the next step, Schneider said.

An unidentified Weathersfield officer opened fire on Edward J. Kitt, 59, of Parkway Drive as Kitt drove toward him and another officer on West Park just west of Waddell Park, the highway patrol’s Southington Post reported.

The gunfire did not injure Kitt, but he did suffer a cut to his hand, the patrol said. The officers were not injured.

The patrol reported the incident began at 9:17 p.m. as the officers were conducting a traffic stop on West Park just east of Parkway Drive.

Kitt’s van struck the rear of one of their patrol cars and then continued, without stopping, the patrol said in a press release.

“As the van continued in their direction, the officers stated that the driver of the van nearly struck one of the officers, forcing him to jump out of the path of the van. The other officer opened fire on the van.”

Kitt was charged through Niles Municipal Court with felonious assault, but that charge was later dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled later.