The SWAT officer wounded during Thursday's standoff at a Sheffield Lake house is in critical condition on Friday at MetroHealth Medical Center.
In a statement, Amherst Police Chief Joseph Kucirek has confirmed that Patrolman Eugene Ptacek, a 17-year veteran of the Amherst Police Department, was the officer who was shot. The Lorain County SWAT Team is comprised of multiple officers from various police departments in Lorain County. Ptl. Ptacek has been assigned to the team for several years.
Ptacek was shot as Lorain County authorities tried to serve an outstanding warrant for weapons violations on former corrections officer Martin Robinson at his Ferndale Avenue home. Ptacek was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center after the shooting via Life Flight.
Robinson was shot several times during the standoff and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Canda Papa, who's lived on the street for 18 years says, "It was pretty chaotic. Once you heard the shots fired, one after another, it was pretty scary."
Papa has had numerous conversations with Robinson while walking her dog and attended a block party that Robinson was at as well. She says she'd never have guessed that he was the reason that SWAT was there on Thursday.
“It’s always quiet down there when you go by, until last night. They’re like at the blue house and I’m like you’re at Martin’s house? Are you sure? I would have never in a million years dreamt that anything was going on like this in his life. I guess you don’t always know your neighbors,” says Papa.
