MAN KILLED DURING RAID WASN'T ARMED OR A DRUG USER, FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAY

Eaton, Ohio - Family and friends of a man killed by police during a drug
raid continue to dispute the police account of the shooting.

Housemates of Clayton Helriggle, who died Sept. 27, said he did not
confront police with a gun, and Helriggle's father said his son did not
have money for drugs.

Authorities have said that an unidentified informant's tip about marijuana
trafficking led them to obtain a search warrant for the farmhouse, about 20
miles west of Dayton, where Helriggle lived with friends.

Officers in riot gear entered the house shortly before 7 p.m. Sept. 27.
Sgt. Kent Moore of the Lewisburg Police Department fired the shotgun blast
that killed Helriggle, according to a sheriff's report filed Wednesday.

Helriggle, 23, came downstairs from the second floor to see what was
happening when he was shot, his roommates said. The initial report by
sheriff's deputies states that Helriggle had a gun. His roommates say he
held only a blue plastic cup.

Preble County Sheriff Tom Hayes, who was not present during the raid, said
Helriggle's gun was found near his body.

Police found less than an ounce of marijuana, but confiscated two
containers of pills, pipes, rolling papers and plastic sandwich bags at the
house, according to the initial sheriff's report. They also seized weapons,
including a shotgun, a BB gun, a sword, knives and a grenade.

Helriggle had been arrested but not convicted of charges involving
marijuana and driving under the influence, according to police records.

Police have no record of having been dispatched to Helriggle's rented house
while he lived there.

Hayes has asked the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to review the
shooting and says that no additional details will be released until that
investigation is completed.