Patrol turns over investigation of officer-involved Weathersfield shooting to prosecutors

WARREN

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Office of Criminal Investigation in Southington has completed its probe into the March 23 confrontation between two Weathersfield Township police officers and a driver on West Park Avenue in Weathersfield.

Sgt. Ronald Schneider said the patrol’s investigation was turned over to the prosecutor’s office about two weeks ago, and that is who will decide whether any charges are filed.

In the incident, an unidentified Weathersfield officer opened fire on Edward J. Kitt, 59, of Parkway Drive in Weathersfield Township as Kitt drove toward him and another officer on West Park just west of Waddell Park, the highway patrol said in a news release at the time.

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.

“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.

Because the case is still pending the investigative report into the gunfire is not yet a public record, but the highway patrol has released its crash report, which says Kitt’s blood-alcohol level was 0.157 at the time of the crash, nearly double the legal limit of 0.08.

Kitt has no pending operating a motor vehicle impaired charge through Niles Municipal Court, according to court records.