CLEVELAND — A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 13.5 years in prison Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty to multiple charges.
33-year-old DeWayne Taylor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was charged with assaulting federal law enforcement officers, brandishing a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Taylor is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony convictions in Pennsylvania.
“I am proud of the professionalism of our Deputies and Task Force Officers during the arrest of this violent fugitive,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. “Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their steadfast effort on this case, along with an outstanding case investigation by the ATF. Law enforcement officers all around the country are dedicated to the safety of their communities, and that is truly the case here in Cleveland.”
The incident in Cleveland happened on December 11, 2020, when Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force officers received word that Taylor, wanted by the state of Pennsylvania, was at the Walmart at Steelyard Commons. Officers attempted to make an arrest, but Taylor was able to get into his vehicle and pointed his gun at one of the members of the task force.
Taylor was shot in the shoulder by officers during the 2020 incident
“This defendant chose to put the lives of innocent people and federal law enforcement officers in danger rather than face his own arrest,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Thankfully, due to the swift and courageous response of the officers, lives were saved that day.”