The Allen County Sheriff°®¶¹app™s Department on Friday identified the officer who was involved in a shooting when a man threatened to kill dozens of people at an Allen County church°®¶¹app™s Nativity event.
Officer Blake Reed, who has been with the department 3½ years, shot his gun while responding to a Spencerville man wielding a semi-automatic pistol, including pointing it at an officer.
Tyler A. Leavitt, 40, was arrested after he reportedly took weapons to Central Ministries at 5801 Schwartz Road. He has been charged with several felonies: criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, disarming a law enforcement officer, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement while using a vehicle and pointing a firearm at another.
He was also charged with misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct, according to online court records.
Leavitt drove onto the property and °®¶¹appœscreamed that he wanted to kill everyone there,°®¶¹app a probable cause affidavit said. The church°®¶¹app™s civilian security was able to stop Leavitt from driving farther toward the crowd, and an officer removed the handgun from his lap.
Leavitt crashed into the ditch line and then allegedly used his wife as °®¶¹appœa human shield,°®¶¹app the affidavit said. He was armed with a knife.
When he was being detained, Leavitt tried to grab the officer°®¶¹app™s patrol rifle. The officer had to use force to restrain Leavitt, the affidavit said.
The defendant was then taken to a hospital, where he unsuccessfully tried to take an officer°®¶¹app™s gun. Leavitt then successfully took the officer°®¶¹app™s Taser.
Indiana State Police is investigating the incident. Police have not said whether bullets from Reed°®¶¹app™s gun struck anyone.
