Dickinson Shooting

A 59-yr-old Dickinson man is in the hospital after being shot by a police officer. Now authoriti...  More »

A 59-yr-old Dickinson man is in the hospital after being shot by a police officer. Now authorities are determining if the Dickinson officer did the right thing. Donnell Preskey has more on what lead to the shooting... Dickinson Police say Joel Wetzel broke into this home around 1:30 Tuesday Morning and opened fire on a man and woman. The roommates were hiding in a bedroom and a bullet came through the door. Arnold Sickler was hit in the leg... (Donnell Preskey) Fearful for their lives the two climbed out of a window and ran outside still on the phone with police. And Wetzel kept shooting... As officers pulled up here they heard gunshots. (Cpt.Stewart Stenberg / Dickinson Police Dept.) Caller had told us he had a gun so we had knowledge when we arrived so officers provided the proper coverage. And when the threat happened they responded appropriately. The threat was Wetzel outside with a rifle... (Cpt. Stenberg) He raised and pointed gun at officer when a second officer recognized the threat he shot Wetzel. The officer shot Wetzel in the chest. Wetzel is now at Saint Alexius - his condition is not being released. Authorities say Wetzel knew the man and woman but they don't know the extent of their relationship. Sickler who was hit in the leg is being treated for his injuries at St. Josephs Hospital. Authorities say they don't believe Wetzel broke into this home to steal. Was it to kill? (Joe Cianni / Dickinson Police Dept.) We can't determine that. Wetzel has been charged with reckless endangerment and burglary. From the hospital Wetzel will go to jail then on to court. In Dickinson, Donnell Preskey, KX News. The officer who shot Wetzel is on administrative leave while the Stark County Sheriffs Department and BCI investigate if he was in the right. Sheriff Clarence Tuhy says the initial investigation shows the officer acted correctly. This is the first Dickinson police officer involved in a shooting in over 30 years. Captain Stenberg says the officer has been with the department for 20 years.  « Less