Sheffield Lake man charged with attempted murder

40-year-old accused of shooting Amherst police officer during standoff

A 40-year-old man faces charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting a police officer in a standoff earlier this year.

Martin Robinson, of Sheffield Lake, faces at least 20 charges in connection with the May 31 confrontation that led to the shooting of Patrolman Eugene “JR” Ptacek.

A 17-year-veteran of the Amherst Police Department, Ptacek was assigned to the Lorain County SWAT team and was part of a group of officers attempting to take Robinson into custody at his Oliver Street home in Sheffield Lake, according to news reports.

Ptacek suffered the gunshot wound and spent months recovering.

On Nov. 8, he was welcomed back to the Amherst Police Department.

Robinson also was injured in the shooting; the extent of his injuries was unclear.

Authorities charged Robinson with attempted aggravated murder, six counts of attempted murder, 11 counts of felonious assault, tampering with evidence and inducing panic, according to court records.

The Lorain County grand jury returned the secret indictment in September and Lorain County sheriff’s deputies served the charges on Robinson on Dec. 19.

Robinson was booked into the Lorain County Jail the night before, according to jail records.

He is being held on a $2 million bond, according to court and jail records.

Robinson apparently has been in the Cuyahoga County Jail for court proceedings for the charges that led to his May confrontation with police in Sheffield Lake.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court records show Robinson is facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, OVI and violating a protection order in connection to an Oct. 31, 2017, arrest in Brook Park.

A Brook Park police report indicates Robinson was in a car stopped for speeding and was under the influence.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a handgun located in the glove compartment with a magazine located next to it, the report said.

On May 31, officers were watching Robinson’s home since the morning.

When they attempted to contact him, he did not answer the door, Sheffield Lake police Chief Tony Campo said previously.

When the officers forced entry into the home, Robinson fired shots, Campo said.

The standoff ended at 12:30 a.m. June 1 with Robinson being taken into custody. In July, Robinson requested a psychological evaluation to determine his competence to stand trial for the Cuyahoga County charges.

However, he refused to cooperate with a doctor for that evaluation, records show.

A judge ruled that Robinson was to remain in jail until a bed is available for him for an evaluation at the North Coast Behavioral Health facility, according to a ruling filed Dec. 7, but based on a Nov. 13 hearing.

That case is pending, according to court records.

Robinson