SHOOTING INCIDENT REPORT RELEASED

The Preble County Sheriff's Office last week released the initial incident
report following the fatal shooting of Clayton Helriggle. Helriggle was
shot by a Preble County officer while the unit was attempting to execute a
search warrant.

The 23-year-old was shot and killed on Friday, Sept. 27, when law
enforcement officers attempted to execute a search warrant at his home at
1282 Ohio 503 South near West Alexandria. The man was shot by an officer
serving in the Preble County Emergency Services Unit.

The incident report provides the name of the officer involved in the
shooting and the sheriff's office's account of the incident. The facts of
that report are being questioned and contradicted by Helriggle's family and
those who were at the residence. A group of Helriggle's friends protested
the shooting for more than a week, claiming it was unjustified.

The incident has become a widespread controversy fueled by various media
reports and contradicting accounts of the incident. Meanwhile, the
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office continues its investigation and the
officer remains on administrative leave.

The sheriff's office report states, Sgt. Kent Moore, a Lewisburg police
officer and a member of the Emergency Services Unit, was responsible for
the shooting death. According to Preble County Sheriff Tom Hayes, Moore has
been with the Lewisburg department for more than 11 years and is a firearms
instructor with the unit.

The report also provides narrative describing the sheriff's office's
account on the incident. The report was filed by Capt. Mike Simpson and reads:

"On 09/27/2002 at approx. 1847 hrs. deputies from the Preble County
Sheriff's Office attempted to serve a search warrant at 1282 S.R. 503
South. Upon arriving at the residence, deputies assigned to the emergency
services unit initiated entry into the residence through pedestrian doors
located on the west and east side of the residence. Shortly after entry was
made, deputies encountered (4) subjects, one of these was encountered in a
stairway, and was found to be in possession of a handgun. Sgt. Kent Moore
of the Lewisburg PD, and member of the ESU, fired (1) round from his
shotgun, striking the subject. This subject was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The deceased subject was identified as Clayton J. Helriggle, age 23 years.
He resided at the residence.

"Detectives from this agency and Eaton Police Division had secured a search
warrant on 09/27/2002 as a result of their investigation into the suspected
trafficking of narcotics that is occurring at the residence. Units from our
agency, Lewisburg PD and Eaton PD assembled at the SO for a briefing prior
to executing the warrant. Units arrived at the scene at approx. 1847 hrs.
Upon arrival, (2) entry teams from the Emergency Services Unit were
deployed, one each to the front and rear doors. After making entry, units
encountered (4) subjects and pit bull dogs. (3) subjects were taken into
custody. (1) subject was shot by Sgt. Moore. A fifth subject was
encountered outside near a white van upon arrival of units at the house. He
was also taken into custody.

"Immediately after the shooting was reported, an ambulance from West
Alexandria EMS was dispatched, as well as CareFlight air ambulance from
Miami Valley Hospital. As part of the pre-planning, West Alexandria EMS and
fire units had been placed on stand-by at their stations, and were
available for immediate response. ESU team member and paramedic Ken Pierce
was on scene and immediately began medical attention to Helriggle after the
shooting.

"After the residence was cleared, the residence was secured with sheriff's
tape. I met with Det. Petitt, ESU team commander. He was ordered to secure
weapons from Sgt. Moore, Det. VanWinkle, and Dep. Caplinger. VanWinkle and
Caplinger had fired shots at pit bull dogs upon entering the residence.
Their weapons were turned over to me by Det. VanWinkle. I then secured them
in my cruiser. A perimeter was established around the residence by on-scene
units.

"Sheriff Hayes, Major Simpson, Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Ferguson, and
county coroner Dr. John Vosler were also summoned to the scene. After his
arrival Sheriff Hayes contacted the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office,
requesting investigators and evidence technicians to handle this scene as
well as interviewing the subjects removed from the residence. The scene was
secured and maintained until their arrival. Dep. Thornsberry was assigned
to maintain a crime scene log."

The remainder of the narrative denotes the arrival of the Montgomery County
Coroner's Office and Montgomery County investigators. It also states,
officers remained at the scene overnight and followed through with the
search warrant on the following day.

While the report states Helriggle had a handgun in his possession, those
opposing the shooting claim he did not. In fact, they continue to state he
had only a blue cup in his hand when he came down the stairway.

According to Hayes, the investigation leading to the acquisition of the
search warrant was initiated by the Eaton Police Division. Once that
investigation reached beyond the city, Preble County Sheriff's detectives
became involved.

Hayes added, the investigation eventually led to a request for a probable
cause search warrant prepared by the Preble County Prosecutor's Office and
signed by Eaton Municipal Court Judge Paul Henry.

The search warrant, according to Hayes, was not a "no knock" warrant. He
added, when officers approached the residence, they did knock on the door
and announce themselves. He added, however, officers did not receive a
response and eventually entered the residence through an unlocked back door.

Hayes also stated, because the investigation led them to believe "up to a
dozen people" may have been at the house, the situation was considered a
"high-risk" operation. Therefore, he stated, the Emergency Services Unit
was used and took all necessary precautions, including full protective gear.

Officers were also aware of the dogs which resided at the home, Hayes
added, increasing the "risk."

Hayes also stated, those expected to be at the residence did not have any
prior violations involving weapons or other assault-related incidents.

Although only a small number of drug-related items were found in the home,
the sheriff's office believes more intense drug-related activity was going
on in the residence.

Hayes was not at the scene during the execution of the search warrant and
the resulting shooting. He reached the scene at around 7:10 p.m.

According to Hayes, at 7:28 p.m. at his request, dispatch contacted the
Bureau of Criminal Investigation which is located in London, Ohio. A
representative from that office returned the call shortly after that.
However, the nearest crime scene investigator was located in Chillicothe at
that time and would need several hours to get there.

At approximately 8 p.m., according to Hayes, the Montgomery County
Sheriff's Office was contacted to investigate the initial crime scene.

"I assure you, during that time, no one got into that house," Hayes said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office had not completed the investigation
as of Monday, Oct. 7. Hayes added, once the investigation is complete, that
information will be turned over to the Preble County Prosecutor's Office
for presentation to a grand jury.

The grand jury will hear the evidence and decide whether there is cause for
charges to be filed and a trial.