Police shoot passenger fleeing Dayton traffic stop, man in stable condition

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Officer Riley Brown was identified as the officer who shot Webster. Brown is on paid administrative pending an internal investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is handling the criminal investigation

The incident started around 9:17 p.m. in the 1000 block of Salem Avenue during a joint auto theft suppression operation with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol. A Dayton officer saw a blue SUV that was registered to a woman with a warrant and initiated a traffic stop.

It was initially reported the vehicle was stopped for not having license plates, but the chief said Tuesday the SUV did have tags.

Afzal noted while it was a joint operation, only Dayton police were involved in the incident.

During the traffic stop, Webster fled from the front passenger seat, the chief said. An officer pursued him on foot past an apartment building and into an alley. The officer reportedly gave verbal commands for Webster to stop and show his hands.

At one point, Webster removed a gun from his pocket and Brown fired multiple shots, Afzal said.

Officers began rendering aid to Webster within seconds, the chief added. Medics from the Dayton Fire Department took over at 9:25 p.m. and transported Webster to Miami Valley Hospital with critical injuries at 9:31 p.m.

Webster initially was handcuffed, but police removed handcuffs within approximately a minute or two as they provided aid, the chief said.

Brown fired four shots, but it was not clear how many times Webster was shot. Afzal said Webster had multiple wounds, but it was not clear if they were entry and exit wounds.

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

The chief asked those critical of the shooting to let the investigation play out.

Afzal noted police usually don’t have much time and have to make a split-second decision. However, he added he understands the historical issues with race and policing and its impacts.

“Being a minority myself I never really look at an individual’s race,” he said. “I look at the behavior an individual has.”

He added police react to somebody’s actions.

“We need to have a little bit of trust in each other and maybe trust more back in law enforcement,” Afzal said.

Investigators reportedly found a handgun, two cell phones and suspected cocaine on Webster.

The chief said the department had some previous history with Webster, but not much.

Brown has been with the department for four years and is part of the Strategic Response Unit. He has has received eight written commendations and an oral reprimand, according to the department.