NORWALK, Ohio – A Richland County man is recovering under police custody in a Toledo hospital after a weekend crime spree that ended in a nine-hour standoff.
Eric Patrick reportedly shot himself in the torso early Sunday morning in a vacant home in Huron County, ending two days that leave the 39-year-old likely facing charges including aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.
The crime spree investigation, according to Major Joe Masi with the Richland County Sheriff Department, started at 8:22 p.m. Friday evening when Shelby police responded to an armed robbery at A.J.’s Drive Thru. According to the Shelby police report, the clerk at the business advised officers that the suspect had a blue cloth bag over his head and used a rifle to hold up the store before fleeing out the back door on foot.
Patrick is also suspected to have burglarized a residential home on Taylortown Road in Shelby. The report from 3:45 p.m. on Friday noted a stolen $250 cash, a wallet, and a .22 caliber rifle.
Patrick is also suspected to have robbed the Sunoco gas station on State Route 430 in Mansfield Saturday morning. According to police reports, a man armed with a long-barreled handgun demanded clerk Jade Davidson give him money. The suspect reportedly got away with $350.
Masi said Patrick then allegedly continued his spree with a burglary at the home of his father, Frederick Patrick, on 1458 Cairns Road in Mansfield. The report made at 4:37 p.m. says Eric Patrick is seen on a video breaking into the garage by force. .
The report notes that Patrick stole five of his father’s firearms, reportedly worth $1,000. Patrick then sent a text message to his father saying he had pawned the firearms in Mansfield, according to the report.
According to the police report for the burglary of Frederick Patrick’s home, Eric Patrick was suspected to have been using drugs at the time of the burglary. However, Masi could not confirm whether Patrick had been affected by the use of drugs.
According to Masi, Patrick allegedly continued his crime spree at Gwirtz Foods in Shelby on 5001 State Route 39 at 5:16 p.m. on Saturday.
At Gwirtz Foods, Patrick reportedly stole an undisclosed amount of money. This put law enforcement on the lookout for a white Chevy Impala. Shortly after the hold up at Gwirtz, the Ohio State Highway Patrol spotted the car and a pursuit ensued with sheriff’s deputies involved as well.
Deputies tried to stop the vehicle and it sped off, commencing a pursuit that led deputies to northern Huron County off State Route 13. Masi said tire strips effectively deflated the Chevy’s left front tire.
Masi said the suspect drove approximately one mile north where his vehicle slid into Obie’s Dairy Bar and Pizza Shack in Norwalk off U.S. Route 250 north.
Patrick then left his vehicle and forced his way into a home that was later reported vacant. Masi said Patrick was armed and was making threats to deputies.
The standoff lasted nine hours, according to Masi. During that time, Huron County Sheriff Dane Howard requested Mansfield Police Department’s ASORT and Hostage Negotiations Team. ASORT/HNT is comprised mostly of MPD officers along with Ontario Police and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office’s robot was deployed at the scene. The device is capable of opening doors, providing real time footage, and completing other mechanically controlled features.
At 4 a.m. on Sunday Dec. 27, Patrick was reported to have sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the torso and was taken to Norwalk’s Fisher-Titus Medical Center and then flown to a hospital in Toledo.
Masi said Patrick could have been working with an accomplice during his crime spree, but that could not be determined at this time. The string of incidents and the standoff are still under investigation.
Officers executed a search warrant on the car Patrick was driving and found evidence within the car.
“The evidence ties in to some of the incidents,” said Major Masi.
Individuals with additional information in regard to Patrick are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit at 419-774-5610.
This is a developing story.
