2 Shelby police officers return to duty after fatal shooting in Tiro

SHELBY — Two Shelby police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of a Tiro man last month have been returned to duty.

Shelby Police chief Lance Combs issued a press release Wednesday morning stating the officers had returned to work, but noting their names will not be made public because the Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues to look into the incident.

Aaron Clifford Fike, 27, died shortly after he was shot by a law enforcement officer outside his Lyndell Road home in Tiro around 10 p.m. on Feb. 26, authorities stated. Fike was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both officers were immediately placed on administrative leave, per Shelby Police Department policy any time a weapon is discharged.

“In accordance with Shelby Police Department Policy, and with the assistance of the Mansfield Police Department, a preliminary internal review of the incident of 2-26-18 near Tiro, Ohio has been completed,” Combs stated. “As a result of that administrative review, both officers involved in the incident have been returned to on-duty status, effective immediately.”

According to Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent, an Ohio State Trooper was northbound on Ohio 39 near milepost 2 in Crawford County at around 9:41 p.m. on Feb. 26 when he observed a male subject walking along the roadway. When the Trooper approached the man he reportedly saw the individual had a shotgun.

During the encounter the subject fired one round at the Trooper’s patrol car and fled on foot northbound across a field. Assistance was requested, and deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Office responded.

A deputy said he spotted the male in a field walking towards a residence on Lydell Road with a firearm. The male refused to follow commands and entered the home where he resided. As officers pulled up in front of the residence, the man came back outside, approaching the officers, refusing to obey commands and pointed the firearm at officers.

Because BCI is continuing its investigation into the incident, the officer’s names will not be released in order to maintain the integrity of that organization’s probe, Combs said.