MANSFIELD — The Mansfield police department has identified the man it said officers shot and during a fatal confrontation at a Straub Road West apartment complex late Monday afternoon.
Police said the man killed inside Apt. 208 at 650 Straub Road West was Kenneth A. Cherry, 35, of 124 W. Third St. in Mansfield.
Cherry was armed with a box cutter and was shot and killed by Mansfield police officers after a Taser had no affect on him, according to a department statement. Cherry’s body will reportedly be taken to Montgomery County for an autopsy.
According to a police report Tuesday, officers responded to the apartment complex Monday regarding a possible burglary in progress. The caller said the suspect was a white male wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and a black hat. The suspect had reportedly broken into one apartment and was trying to break into another.
When officers arrived, they were told the suspect was in Apt. 208. Officers said the apartment looked ransacked and made entry, confronting the suspect.
Mansfield Police Assistant Chief Keith Porch said Monday police received a call at 4:25 p.m., stating an unknown male suspect was breaking into the apartment.
“The caller advised he believed the male was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, and it appeared the suspect was in possession of a box cutter,” Porch said. “Shortly after arriving at the apartment complex, the officers confronted the suspect, who was highly agitated. Officers noted the suspect had already injured himself with a cutting instrument.
“Officers deployed tasers that had no affect on the suspect’s actions. The confrontation then escalated and resulted in the suspect being fatally shot. (The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) was requested to conduct the investigation into the shooting,” Porch said.
“The officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave, per department policy. The officers involved are Officer Matt Davis, Officer Thayne Telquist, and Officer Scott Kotterman. None of the officers involved were injured.”
The apartment complex is just east of the roundabout at the intersection with Middle-Bellville Road.
The apartment was on the second floor on the west end of the complex.
