MANSFIELD — A three-hour hostage situation early Saturday morning ended with Mansfield police killing the suspect, according to Chief Jason Bammann.
None of the victims in the incident were injured, he said.
The suspect was identified Saturday afternoon as Michael Oswalt II, 41, according to Bob Ball, chief investigator for the Richland County Coroner’s Office. His body will be taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for autopsy on Monday, Ball said.
Officers responded at 1:56 a.m. to 200 Cline Ave. on a report of domestic violence.
“Officers encountered a male at the door with a knife. The male fled back inside the residence, which was occupied by his girlfriend and her two small children,” the chief said.
“The male appeared to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Hostage negotiators and the Richland County ASORT team arrived on the scene to begin negotiations,” Bammann said.
The chief said three hours of negotiations began, which led to the suspect releasing the children, ages 8 and 6.
“A short time later, the victim attempted to escape from the suspect and exit the house at 4:56 a.m.,” he said, leading to the ASORT team shooting and killing the suspect.
The woman and the children were not injured during the incident, he said.
(Below are photos taken from the scene at 200 Cline Ave. on Saturday morning. The story continues below the photos.)
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office
arrived on the scene.
Bammann said BCI will investigate the police-involved shooting. Officers involved in the shooting will be on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he said.
The name of the deceased suspect was not released Saturday morning, pending notification of his next-of-kin.
