Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Akron judge Linda Kersker dies
DiLullo's closes doors after 63 years
Portage man beaten at home, robbed of coins
Akron police arrest murder suspect within an hour
Call center to cut 250 jobs in Akron
Rib, White and Blue is festival of tastes
Man fit for trial in rape of girl, 2
UPDATE: Deadly motorcycle crash closes I-76
Blogs:
Pets:
Summit teams up with Rescue Waggin' to save dogs
The Heldenfiles:
I Hate "More To Love"
Patrick McManamon:
Ron Artest goes to the Lakers
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Northern Illinois
Browns Bulletin:
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tribe Matters:
Tribe needs to slow down opponents
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Updated: Free Agency: Another Gone - Apparently
All Da King's Men:
IPCC Already Wrong About Global Warming
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Wow….Sarah Palin Resigns Governorship
Akron Law Café:
Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth of July
Varsity Letters:
Highland senior receives honor
See Jane Style:
Picnic Wear
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Hate Crime in Fort Worth Texas: "That F***t had it Coming"
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Linda asks-where is the Ohio Chautauqua?
Sound Check:
Rundgren fans rejoice!: Second night of AWATS at The Civic added
HRLite House:
Sport Psychology and Performance Consulting
Akron Gamer:
Hot link: Best of Nintendo at E3
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 10:59 a.m. EDT, Jul 21, 2008
The man accused of killing Twinsburg police officer Joshua T. Miktarian has been indicted by a Summit County grand jury.
Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, at a press conference this morning in Twinsburg City Council Chambers, said Ashford Thompson, 23, of Twinsburg, was indicted on two counts of aggravated murder with death specifications, two counts of escape, two counts of resisting arrest, three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of carrying a concealed weapon.
In addition, there are also numerous firearm specifications included in the indictment.
''The aggravated murder charges include the specification for imposition of the death penalty for aggravated murder when the victim was a law enforcement officer,'' Walsh said, ''and at the time of the commission of the offense, was engaged in the victim's duties or it was the offender's specific purpose to kill a law enforcement officer.''
Miktarian, 33, of Tallmadge was killed when he stopped Thompson in front of Thompson's house at 2454 Glenwood Drive for playing loud music and suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police.
Walsh said other specifications in the indictment deal with committing aggravated murder in the course of escape and to avoid apprehension or detection of a crime.
A coroner's spokesman said Miktarian was shot in the head several times at close range.
Thompson was arrested by Bedford Heights police less than an hour later at a home on Cambridge Road.
Walsh, who said she is the granddaughter of a police officer, said, ''It is not part of the job of a police officer to be kicked, hit, spit on, or assaulted in any manner for doing their job. It certainly was not part of officer Miktarian's job to give his life that Sunday morning. It was not his job to leave behind a wife with no husband and a baby girl with no father.''
A preliminary hearing in Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court that was scheduled for today was cancelled. Thompson, who is being held on $5 million bond, is scheduled for arraignment Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Walsh would not comment on whether others may be charged in the case and said, ''We will prosecute Ashford Thompson to the fullest extent of the law and will seek justice for officer Miktarian, his family, his colleagues and for all the citizens of Summit County.''
As Walsh spoke, a shrine for Miktarian remained in front of Twinsburg City Hall that includes flowers, pictures, posters and holy candles, some of which are still lit.
''Officer Miktarian, God bless you. We will remember,'' were the words written on one of the signs.
The man accused of killing Twinsburg police officer Joshua T. Miktarian has been indicted by a Summit County grand jury.
Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, at a press conference this morning in Twinsburg City Council Chambers, said Ashford Thompson, 23, of Twinsburg, was indicted on two counts of aggravated murder with death specifications, two counts of escape, two counts of resisting arrest, three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of carrying a concealed weapon.
In addition, there are also numerous firearm specifications included in the indictment.
''The aggravated murder charges include the specification for imposition of the death penalty for aggravated murder when the victim was a law enforcement officer,'' Walsh said, ''and at the time of the commission of the offense, was engaged in the victim's duties or it was the offender's specific purpose to kill a law enforcement officer.''
Miktarian, 33, of Tallmadge was killed when he stopped Thompson in front of Thompson's house at 2454 Glenwood Drive for playing loud music and suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police.
Walsh said other specifications in the indictment deal with committing aggravated murder in the course of escape and to avoid apprehension or detection of a crime.
A coroner's spokesman said Miktarian was shot in the head several times at close range.
Thompson was arrested by Bedford Heights police less than an hour later at a home on Cambridge Road.
Walsh, who said she is the granddaughter of a police officer, said, ''It is not part of the job of a police officer to be kicked, hit, spit on, or assaulted in any manner for doing their job. It certainly was not part of officer Miktarian's job to give his life that Sunday morning. It was not his job to leave behind a wife with no husband and a baby girl with no father.''
A preliminary hearing in Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court that was scheduled for today was cancelled. Thompson, who is being held on $5 million bond, is scheduled for arraignment Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Walsh would not comment on whether others may be charged in the case and said, ''We will prosecute Ashford Thompson to the fullest extent of the law and will seek justice for officer Miktarian, his family, his colleagues and for all the citizens of Summit County.''
As Walsh spoke, a shrine for Miktarian remained in front of Twinsburg City Hall that includes flowers, pictures, posters and holy candles, some of which are still lit.
''Officer Miktarian, God bless you. We will remember,'' were the words written on one of the signs.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
