Marshals shoot and kill suspect in Clark County
Man shot in Bethel Twp. was wanted for making threats to a judge.
The man shot Friday was wanted on a warrant out of Stark County for making threats to a judge in Greene County for his case.
U.S. Marshals shot and killed a person wanted out of Stark County after the suspect shot at a task force member in Clark County on Friday morning.
The U.S. Marshals Service Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team was attempting to arrest a person at a home in the 300 block of North Hampton Road on Friday morning, according to a statement from the Marshals Service.
The suspect was wanted for making threats to a judge, Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal Charles Sanso said.
“The suspect fired a weapon at the team, and a member of the task force returned fire, striking the suspect,” Sanso said.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting, Sanso said.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office on Friday would not confirm the name of the man killed by U.S. Marshals.
However, Douglas C. Barton was identified in an arrest warrant filed by the Stark County Sheriff ’s Office in Massillon Municipal Court.
“The defendant, Douglas Barton, did make threats of harm towards Judge (David) Stucki who had presided over his court case while in Greene County, Ohio,” the affidavit read.
The warrant, issued April 2, was recalled Friday afternoon “due to the defendant being deceased; warrant is hereby canceled.”
Larry Marvel, who lives next door to the house where the shooting occurred, said he heard “a couple of shots,” around 8 a.m. Friday.
“It wasn’t until about 9 o’clock, later, I was down at my son’s house and we were coming back and we saw all the police and then
we kind of figured what had happened,” Marvel said.
Marvel said the Marshal Service had contacted him earlier this week to see if they could use his driveway to stake out the house. “I knew they were trying to give that peaceful resolution, get him away from everything,’’ he said.
Marvel said he did not know his neighbors but described people in the neighborhood as very friendly, even though they don’t do things together.
“We don’t do things together, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you the names of all the neighbors even though we talk to each other if we’re out,’’ Marvel said.
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation. Sanso said the
Marshals Service will also conduct an internal review after BCI completes its investigation.
Steve Irwin, press secretary
for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, said BCI had no additional information that could be released
about the shooting.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office Deputies on the scene directed inquiries to BCI.