Marion Co. officers cleared of wrongdoing in 2022 La Rue shooting
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has determined that Marion County law enforcement officers acted properly during a shooting last December in which an alleged drug trafficker was killed. In the wake of the BCI investigation, the Marion County grand jury declined to issue any indictments against the officers when it was convened on Wednesday, Prosecutor Ray Grogan said.
Travis W. Hellinger, age 38, La Rue, was shot and killed after he shot at members of the Marion County Special Response Team who were executing a search warrant on Dec. 20, 2022, at his residence located in the 200 block of North Swain Avenue in La Rue, according to a press release from the MARMET Drug Task Force. Local law enforcement officials contacted the Ohio BCI that morning to request that the agency investigate the shooting incident.
Grogan said he decided to convene the grand jury "to provide the fullest amount of transparency and accountability to the use of force by the Special Response Team."
“Our law enforcement officers have a hard job, and their work gets downright dangerous when a fleeing criminal suspect tries to kill them,” Grogan said after the grand jury decision. “Our local law enforcement officers are among the best in the State of Ohio, and while I didn’t have any reason to believe the officers and deputies acted improperly, I wanted the citizens on the grand jury to review the facts. They did so and they decided that no charges should be brought. The matter is now closed.”
According to the press release issued by MARMET, local law enforcement agents arrived at Hellinger's residence to conduct the search around 5 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2022, as a result of an investigation that revealed he was allegedly trafficking in methamphetamine in Marion County. Authorities say Hellinger was allegedly armed with three semiautomatic handguns when he fled the house on foot and ran towards railroad tracks located on North Section Street in La Rue.
According to the press release, Hellinger was "screaming at police" as he walked along the railroad tracks. Officers then "pleaded with (Hellinger) to drop his guns and give himself up peacefully." A K-9 was deployed in an attempt "to end the standoff without gunfire," officials said. However, officials said Hellinger then began shooting at the K-9 and in the direction of law enforcement officers. Officers then returned fire and struck him.
Law enforcement officers rendered first aid to the suspect at the scene, but Hellinger later died after being transported to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital.
Marion County Sheriff Matt Bayles said no law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Co. officers cleared of wrongdoing in 2022 La Rue shooting
