BELPRE COMMUNITY UPSET BY FATAL RAID

BELPRE, Ohio, Dec. 7 (UPI) - A controversy has erupted in southeast Ohio
concerning a marijuana drug raid in which law enforcement officers shot a
man eight times.

A public hearing was scheduled today in Belpre to allow citizens to question
Washington County officials about the death of Delbert Bonar.

The victim's family contends Bonar was unarmed when he was shot. Sheriff's
deputies say the family is lying and the 57-year-old man had refused to put
down an unloaded shotgun during the October incident.

Bonar's daughter-in-law, Carolyn Bonar, told the Columbus Dispatch Delbert
Bonar was putting down a water bottle and reaching for the telephone when he
was shot.

Sheriff Robert Schlicher told the newspaper Carolyn Bonar is lying. He said
Bonar confronted Sgt. William Wilson and Capt. Chris Forshey and they
protected themselves. ``This is something none of us feels good about but
there isn't much more you can expect a law enforcement officer to do.''

The deputies had a search warrant when they raided the Bonar home at 9 p.m.
Oct. 15. They suspected Bonar's son, Albert, was growing and selling
marijuana. They found a small amount of the illegal weed, enough for
personal consumption. Albert Bonar has not been charged with a crime.

Checked-by: Don Beck