A Canton man is in custody on a slew of charges after allegedly shooting at a police officer during a chase in East Canton overnight Sunday, police said.
According to a press release posted by the East Canton Police Department, Edward Irwin III has been charged with the following:
- Attempted felonious assault on a police officer
- Fleeing and eluding
- Felony possession of drugs
Police say the chase began after an East Canton officer initiated a traffic stop at the corner of Wood Street and Nassau Street at around 12:05 a.m. Sunday. During the stop, the officer heard "several" gunshots fired from about 100 yards away on East Nassau Street and saw a man later identified as Irwin driving a motorcycle on Browning Court before turning onto Wood Street via Noble Street.
The officer gave chase on State Route 44 and the pursuit left East Canton village limits. Shortly afterward, police said Irwin allegedly looked back at the officer and shot at him twice, then shot in the air once.
Police said the officer was not hit and continued to chase Irwin. After a "brief period," Irwin allegedly slowed and attempted to pull into a gravel driveway but lost control of his motorcycle. Irwin allegedly regained the motorcycle and drove away on State Route 44 and back into East Canton.
Police from the city of Louisville and the village of Hartville, as well as Stark County Sheriff's deputies, joined the pursuit. According to East Canton police, Irwin crashed his motorcycle again on South Wood Street and allegedly attempted to run away before being apprehended by a Hartville K-9 officer.
After taking Irwin into custody, police discovered he had "numerous" outstanding warrants for felony charges. Irwin was treated at a hospital and booked into Stark County Jail.
Irwin could see further charges as police are continuing to investigate the alleged shooting.
In the press release, East Canton Mayor David Spencer and Chief of Police Thomas Hinerman thanked the responding police agencies for their help with the pursuit.
"Further, we applaud the commitment and tenacity of our officer with the ECPD, which ultimately led to the arrest," the release reads.