Amber Alert Update: Police Kill Father in Search for Missing Ohio Girl
Police officers have shot and killed a father accused of kidnapping his daughter following a dramatic car chase in Ohio, as reported by the Medina County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
According to a press release from the MCSO, officers fired on Charles Alexander, 43, who was suspected of kidnapping his seven-year-old daughter, Oaklynn Alexander.
Police told Newsweek that Oaklynn, who was the subject of a state-wide amber alert, was able to escape the vehicle.
Left: Charles Alexander, Right: Oaklynn Alexander. Charles Alexander was shot and killed by police after being suspected of kidnapping his seven year-old daughter, Oaklynn.
Ohio Amber Alert
“The child is okay, thank God. And a tragedy has been escaped.” Captain Bors of the Medina County Sheriff’s Office told Cleveland 19 on November 11 after she was found to be safe.
Captain Bord added: “The child appeared to be okay at this time physically.”
Alexander, who was reportedly armed, was apprehended by officers using stop sticks after he ignored a traffic stop in Brunswick, Ohio.
Per reporting from ABC 6, the initial amber alert said that Oaklynn was taken by her father who had been previously denied custody of her after an altercation with the family.
The alert asked citizens to look out for a 2023 Ford F-650 U-Haul with Arizona license plate AL74169, which they believed Alexander to be driving after he abandoned a different car.
The press release from November 12 stated: “The vehicle came to a stop in a business parking lot where law enforcement attempted to negotiate with the armed suspect. The suspect, Charles Ryan Alexander, communicated with several dispatch centers by telephone.
“Multiple guns shots were fired in an officer-involved shooting. Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene by the Medina County Coroner, Dr. Deranek.”
The press release added: “No officers were physically injured during the incident.”
The MCSO went on to thank the agencies that were on the scene including “Medina Township Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Brunswick Division of Police, Montville Police Department, US Marshals, Medina Fire Department and Cleveland Clinic Life Support Team.”
Per the MCSO, their office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are still investigating the event.
They have asked people with any information on the investigationto contact Captain Eric Bors at the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is still being investigated by the Medina County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
The Medina community appears to be split on the decision to kill Alexander, according to comments left on the MCSO’s Facebook page.
While some people questioned the decision, such as one user who posted under the name Denny Smith, saying “There had to be a better way to handle this…”, others have expressed concern for the welfare of the officers involved.
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Update 11/14/24 11:47 ET: This story was updated to include comment from the MSCO Facebook group.