LOCAL MAN KILLED DURING SEARCH

October 2, 2002 - A 23-year-old Preble County man was shot and killed on
Friday, Sept. 27, when law enforcement officers attempted to execute a
search warrant at his home. The man was shot by an officer serving in the
Preble County Emergency Services Unit.

Clayton J. Helriggle, 1282 Ohio 503 South, near West Alexandria, was
pronounced dead after suffering a single shot in the chest. According to
Preble County Sheriff Tom Hayes, the name of the officer involved in the
shooting is being withheld at this time.

According to a press statement released on the following day, the Preble
County Sheriff's Office was executing a search warrant on Friday evening
when the incident occurred. The statement reads, "Upon entering the
residence, deputies encountered a male subject coming down the staircase
with a weapon. An officer reacted to this subject, and subsequently shot
and killed him."

According to Hayes, the search warrant was obtained earlier that afternoon
following a "short-term" drug-related investigation which lasted a few days.

The warrant was served by the Emergency Service Unit which is comprised on
sheriff's deputies and officers from Eaton, Lewisburg and New Paris.

Although the facts of the case are being disputed by Helriggle's family and
friends, Hayes adamantly stands firm with what he considers the facts in
the case.

Hayes stated on Monday, the officers entered the rear of the house through
an unlocked door, announcing themselves and stating they had a search
warrant as they entered.

"Once inside the rear of the house, an officer was confronted with a man
coming down the stairway with a gun," Hayes said. "The officer fired at him
with a shotgun, striking him in the chest."

According to Hayes, a 9 mm handgun was found on the stairway after the
shooting took place. The gun has been confiscated and held as evidence.

Hayes also added, the gun was "loaded and had one shell in the chamber."

The fact that Helriggle was actually carrying a gun has been disputed by
family and friends of the victim. In fact, the group staged a protest in
front of the courthouse on Monday, claiming Helriggle was holding a blue
cup when he came down the stairway, not a gun.

Hayes reacted to the claim, stating the only cup that was found following
the incident was on the kitchen table.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative
leave, pending an investigation which is being conducted by the Montgomery
County Sheriff's Office. According to Hayes, this is standard procedure
following this type of incident.

Once the investigation is complete, this information will be taken to the
Preble County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for presentation to a Preble
County grand jury.

Hayes also stated, once the shooting incident occurred, the search of the
house was immediately stopped in order to "preserve the scene." The house
was secured during the overnight hours as investigators collected evidence.

On Saturday, according to the press statement, the search resumed and a
small quantity of "marijuana, pills, drug paraphernalia and quantities of
packaging items used in the distribution of marijuana" was seized.

As of Monday, no arrests had been made, according to Hayes.

Hayes also reacted on Monday to published reports officers were
"celebrating" after the incident.

"For anyone to think we would be celebrating after someone got shot is
absolutely absurd."