The Allen County Sheriff's Office held a news conference Wednesday morning with more details on the investigation into the deadly Michigan Avenue shooting on August 3, 2017. The Allen County Grand Jury decided that the two officers involved will not be facing criminal charges. They're expected to return to work in the next couple days.
“There was no probable cause to return any charges against the officers involved,” says Gary Lammers, Putnam County Prosecutor, who was asked by the Allen County Prosecutor to present the case to the Allen County Grand Jury. Lammers goes on to say that Deputies Barry Friemoth and Josh Bayer did obtain a knock and announce warrant and the SWAT team did properly executed the search warrant. Lammers says the deputies knocked several times before knocking down the door. Lammers says the two officers were confronted by Burkholder who had a firearm and shot at the two officers.
"They clearly gave noticed, they knocked at the door, several times, before they breached the door and then detonated a flash bang device and then the officers, and the SWAT team and their staff entered the property.” Lammers also said, “At that time, despite the officers request to come down, announced who they were again, repeated all these officers were making this similar statement, ‘Search warrant sheriff’s office, search warrant sheriff’s office, get down on the floor, show me your hands.’, Mr. Burkholder presented and engaged them with a firearm."
A total of eleven shots were fired. Two of those coming from Burkholder. We spoke to the family of Keith Burkholder and they respectfully declined any comment at this time.
Allen County Sheriff Matt Treglia says they will continue to secure houses where illegal substances are kept and they will continue to keep them off the streets.
“Keep in mind, all my officers, especially my SWAT officers are highly trained individuals. They train for exactly for these scenarios when people shoot at them.” Treglia adds, “And if you shoot at my officers you should expect, they are going to shoot back and this is going to happen again.”
Sheriff Treglia says this case is no longer a criminal investigation. If you would like to view the whole press conference log on to the Hometown Stations Facebook Page
