Animal clinic owner kills himself during raid

Drug investigators were serving search warrant for records.

The LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO — owner of a Sheffield Township emergency animal clinic killed himself Wednesday morning when drug investigators served a search warrant seeking records, the Lorain County Sheriff ’s Office said.

Dr. Craig Talbott, owner of the Animal Emergency Center, died shortly after 8 a.m. as members of the Lorain County Drug Task Force, the sheriff ’s office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration searched his Grove Avenue office.

Task force agents made contact with 66-year-old Talbot who agreed to cooperate with investigators, according to the sheriff ’s office’s statement. The contents of the search warrant were not immediately available. The Plain Dealer has made a request for those records.

Talbot led the investigators to an interior office where he grabbed a handgun and threatened to kill himself, the sheriff ’s office said. The agents tried to convince him to drop the gun.

The agents called two additional deputies for assistance, and they also tried to persuade Talbot to drop the gun.

One of the deputies fired a Taser at Talbot. When it appeared to have no effect on Talbot, a deputy discharged a second Taser, the sheriff ’s office said. That, too,appeared to have no effect on Talbot. Talbot then shot himself. He died at the scene. Det. Capt. Donald Barker said the sheriff ’s office asked the Lorain Police Department to handle the investigation. Detectives from the department came to the animal clinic and took over the investigation.