Lorain police exchange gunfire with man while responding to burglary

A Lorain police officer narrowly escaped serious injury after responding to a call of two masked gunmen holding a couple at gunpoint during an armed robbery Oct. 5.

About 12:23 a.m., Officer Richard Shiltz and fellow officers responded to the 1600 block of Oberlin Avenue when a caller reported two men were trying to force their way into his home, according to a Lorain police report.

When officers arrived, they heard a male yelling for help and a female inside crying hysterically, the report said.

Shiltz peered into the home and saw Jonathan Smith Jr., 31, of 1620 Middle Ave., Elyria, in the living room.

He ordered the man to show his hands.

When Shiltz entered the home, he found a male victim on the floor, along with Allen Wooten, 28, of 600 Glen Oaks Blvd., in Sheffield Township, the report said.

Wooten became uneasy, distracting the officer from Smith, police said. During the commotion, Shiltz “heard a gunshot and observed an orange flash out of the corner of his eye,” the report said.

Shiltz returned fire twice as he retreated from the room and secured cover, the report said.

Wooten and Smith then fled the home through a second-floor window, according to the report.

Wooten jumped from the window, but was taken into custody by K-9 Officer Craig Payne, it said.

He was charged with two counts of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and felonious assault. Wooten was transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries suffered from the jump and then released to police.

Smith made his way to a neighboring roof, where he claimed to be a “sovereign citizen” and refused to surrender, the report said.

After his brief resistance, Smith climbed down a ladder into police custody.

Smith was charged with attempted aggravated murder, felonious assault, aggravated burglary and two counts of kidnapping.

The male victim said, before calling police, he heard a knock at the front door of his home. The man then called 911 when the two men began kicking the door.

Once inside, Wooten and Smith claimed to be Lorain police and demanded money, the victim said.

The suspects then struck the man several times in the head with a handgun and bound his hands with duct tape.

The victim and his girlfriend also were treated by Mercy Regional Medical Center staff and released, the report said.

Officers recovered two firearms used during the alleged robbery.

Smith and Wooten are being held at Lorain City Jail without bond, police said.

In a statement released, Police Chief Cel Rivera commended officers Shiltz, Payne and members of Team 6 for their efforts in defusing the situation, rescuing the victims and taking Wooten and Smith into custody.

“Our officers go out every day and provide a valuable service to this community, often at a great risk to themselves,” Rivera said.

“This is a vivid example of the dangers faced by those officers and the courage and restraint that they display on a daily basis.

“This could have been tragic, and we thank God that it was resolved without any bloodshed.”

Smith

Wooten