Bucyrus police chief: ‘It can happen anywhere. We’re not exempt from violence’

BUCYRUS — It’s not the kind of violence often seen in small-town America, especially in communities with a population of just under 12,000.

But Bucyrus police Chief Jon Dorsey made it clear no location is exempt from the scene seen on Monday, after a nearly 12-hour standoff inside a house that ended with law enforcement returning gunfire and killing the lone suspect.

It ended with the death of Paul Desmarais, 41, who barricaded himself inside a home in the 900 block of East Warren Street.

“It can happen anywhere. We’re not exempt from violence happening here,” the police chief said Monday afternoon during a press conference with Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall.

“Unfortunately, human nature is unpredictable,” said Dorsey, who began with the BPD as an officer in 2022 and became chief in July 2025.

“It can happen anywhere. Is it a result of mental illness? I don’t know. I’m not a psychiatrist. Is it drugs? I’m not sure.

“But it’s everywhere and we’re not exempt. It just doesn’t happen as often here, but everything does happen in this city, like it happens everywhere else,” Dorsey said.

Standoff began with domestic issue

The incident began Sunday at 10:21 p.m. in the Crawford County seat when police responded to a domestic dispute and encountered Desmarais, reportedly armed with a gun and clad in body armor.

It ended late Monday morning, according to Dorsey, after negotiations failed to gain the suspect’s surrender.

Desmarais apparently had explosives and a gas mask, which later made law enforcement’s use of tear gas inside the house ineffective.

Bucyrus police during the night used social media to warn residents of the situation. A growing law enforcement presence was mustered as Desmarais refused to surrender. Dorsey said the suspect was alone in the house at the time.

The BPD was assisted by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Mansfield Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Ontario Police Department, Crawford County Coroner’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Bucyrus Fire Department.

The Mansfield Police Department also sent its new mobile operations center and drone unit to assist during the long standoff.

An armored SWAT vehicle featuring a hydraulic breaching ram was eventually used to break through the front of the house. A state patrol machine tore into the rear of the house.

Tear gas was used, but Desmarais was prepared with his mask.

“That’s when officers were being shot at … they were trying to use gas to get him to surrender,” Dorsey said.

“He had a gas mask on … so he had no intention of coming out is what it appears,” Dorsey said.

The suspect fired on law enforcement officers, who returned fire and killed the suspect.

Neither the identities of the officers who fired shots nor the departments they represented were announced on Monday during the press conference.

Desmarais was out on $25,000 bond after being indicted in April on an unrelated felony intimidation charge. After the incident began, Crall’s office successfully asked Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold to revoke that bond.

Crall said that indictment came after an April 14 incident in which Desmarais allegedly threatened a Bucyrus police officer.

“I don’t believe that officer was even on duty today, so there’s not a crossover there,” the prosecutor said.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation handling probe

Crall said during the press conference that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was in charge of the scene.

“We want to make sure that we have transparency for the public, so they can know what’s going on here. But we’re still investigating, so we ask everyone to please remain patient,” the prosecutor said.

“These things often take quite some time to go through. The entire investigation will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office and most likely this will then go in front of a grand jury.

“That’s just the typical process that we go through whenever there’s an officer-involved shooting. Obviously, we’re not saying the officer did anything wrong.

“But we just make sure that we are doing what is necessary and proper to have a full and transparent investigation.”

Crall said the officers firing the shots at the suspect were not from any Crawford County law enforcement agency.

“I asked that question because of my own potential conflicts,” the prosecutor said.

‘Situations like this … nobody wants to see ever’

Dorsey said officers cleared the residence and explosive materials were found, contained and removed from the home. He declined to identify the type of explosives found.

Bucyrus City Schools were closed Monday as the situation unfolded.

There is no threat to public safety and no officers were injured, Dorsey said Monday afternoon.

The veteran officer said it was a difficult situation for everyone involved.

“Our department is kind of like a family, so it is very difficult. My department is young. However, we had a lot of assistance from a lot of other agencies,” the chief said.

“I do want to thank those guys because everybody responded quickly and we all came together.

“Situations like this … nobody wants to see ever,” the chief said. “We attempted numerous times to use less-than-lethal tactics. Nobody wants it to end this way.”

He said the BPD was still ready to assist city residents.

“My message is the Bucyrus Police Department is still here. If you need anything, please contact us. We do care. We will respond. We will take care of you.

“If you need anything, please call us. I genuinely love this city. Anytime anything happens, we will do anything and everything we can.

“That’s why whenever something like this does happen, We rally together and we will get through. We will come together and we’re going to be a strong community again.

“This is a safe community. It’s a strong community.”