Just after 8:30 Thursday morning the the Crime Task Force and Sheriff's Office SWAT team along with agents from Ohio BCI, FBI, DEA, ATF, were serving a search warrant at 218 West Michigan Avenue. At that time an adult male who has been identified by the Wood County Sheriff's Office as 57-year-old Keith Burkholder was inside the home and he confronted law enforcement during the search.
"An adult male confronted the SWAT team with a firearm inside the residence and gunfire was exchanged, the suspect subsequently died," says Sheriff Treglia.
An adult female and a minor child were also inside the home but were safely removed by the officers. Sheriff Treglia says a significant amount of firearms, drugs and U.S currency was recovered from the home during the search. The search warrant was issued because the location was under suspicion of selling drugs. During the investigating prior to the incident, law enforcement was conducting undercover drug buys at the home.
"Lab test later confirmed drugs purchased were Fentanyl. Fentanyl and heroin have been linked to many overdose deaths in Allen County and as well as nationwide numerous people have died because of this epidemic," says Sheriff Treglia.
Sheriff Treglia confirmed that a vehicle that was seized on Bellefontaine Avenue on Thursday during a felony traffic stop is related to the Michigan Avenue incident but because it's still under investigation he will not say how the car is connected to the incident at the Michigan Avenue home.
At this time they are still no names being released of the two law enforcement officers who were involved in the shooting but Sheriff Treglia says the SWAT team did follow protocol when entering the home .
The Michigan Avenue home was one of three separate search warrants issued on drug related activities on Thursday.
You can watch the complete press conference given by Allen County Sheriff Matt Treglia here.
