BUCYRUS – A Bucyrus man was fatally shot Monday after barricading himself inside a residence, firing a weapon and threatening law enforcement, authorities reported in a press release.
The suspect, identified as Paul A. Desmarais, 41, barricaded himself inside the
residence during a domestic dispute.
Bucyrus police officers, along with local and state law-enforcement partners, attempted to negotiate with Desmarais over a number of hours, Bucyrus Police Chief Jon A. Dorsey stated in the press release.
On Sunday at about 10:21 p.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute call in the 900 block of East Warren Street. Upon arrival, officers say they saw a male inside the residence wearing body armor and carrying a firearm.
(Below is a City of Bucyrus press conference Monday afternoon. The press conference begins at the 13:20 mark.)
Police reported several hours of unsuccessful negotiations lasted into Monday. After several attempts to use less-than-lethal tactics, the suspect threatened he had an explosive device and fired multiple shots at officers, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.
Dorsey said officers cleared the residence and explosive materials were found, contained and removed from the home.
Bucyrus City Schools were closed Monday as the situation unfolded.
There is no threat to public safety and no officers were injured, Dorsey said.
The domestic dispute remains under investigation by the Bucyrus Police Department. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was requested to investigate the officer-involved
shooting.
The Bucyrus Police Department 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.
