Findlay Police Officer Fires Fatal Shot During Rodeway Inn Incident

Findlay Police Dispatch received a call from a resident of the Rodeway Inn, room 214 at 1 p.m. Monday of a male threatening to harm himself. The caller stated he had a gun and then disconnected.  Officers arrived on scene and located the male, identified as Holden Smith, (37 year old male) standing in the parking lot in front of the room when Officers arrived.

Holden possessed a gun in his hand and was waving and pointing it. Officers attempted to negotiate with Holden but were unsuccessful. Holden raised the gun in a motion causing an Officer to fire one round, striking Holden. 

Aid was rendered and Hanco arrived on scene to transport Holden to Blanchard Valley Hospital. Holden was pronounced deceased at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The Officer’s name will not be released at this time. No other subjects were injured.

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation (BCI) was contacted to handle the investigation.