Grand jury: No charges for officer in fatal Fairfield shooting

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrives at the scene of an officer involved shooting Friday morning, June 22 on Gelhot Drive in Fairfield. A Fairfield police officer arrived on the scene of a man stabbing a woman in a condo and fired on the man killing him. The woman died from her injuries. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrives at the scene of an officer involved shooting Friday morning, June 22 on Gelhot Drive in Fairfield. A Fairfield police officer arrived on the scene of a man stabbing a woman in a condo and fired on the man killing him. The woman died from her injuries. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

A Butler County grand jury has decline to indict a Fairfield police officer who fatally shot a man reportedly stabbing his girlfriend.

Prosecutor Michael Gmoser announced the grand jury results Tuesday afternoon.

“Total clarity was established by the body camera worn by the officer under review and confirms the decision of the grand jury that no criminal charge is warranted or suggested concerning the conduct of the office,” he said.

MORE: Fairfield police ID victims in officer-involved shooting 

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Fairfield police were called to the 1500 block of Gelhot Drive at 5:59 a.m. on June 22 for a domestic dispute. Officer Bryan Carnes, a three-year veteran of the force, broke open the door to the residence and bathroom where a man was actively stabbing a woman, according to the investigation.

In an attempt to stop the stabbing, Carnes fired two shots, striking Logan A. Williamson, 37, who died at the scene. The stabbing victim, 37-year-old Michelle R. Henry later died at Mercy Hospital-Fairfield.

Police records show officers had previously been called to respond to the couple’s address in September 2017 on a domestic violence report where Williamson was arrested for attacking Henry.

Henry told officers “her boyfriend tried to poison her by placing (sic) dissolvable sleeping pills in her mouth while she was sleeping.”

Police records also showed that in recent years Williamson had been arrested for fleeing police after speeding, carrying alcohol and a weapon in a car on another occasion.

The woman’s family members had asked police to stop at the address last year to check on Henry, saying they had not heard from her for an extended time.

A woman blurted out the address once in the 3-minute, 2o-second call, according to the June 22 call to 911.

“He’s stabbing me!” the woman screamed once. Then there is constant screaming as dispatcher continued to urge her to shout out her address.

MORE: Police Chief: Officer shoots, kills man who fatally stabbed woman

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the investigation and the results was presented to a Butler County grand jury Tuesday.

“When the officer under review received this notification all of his police training was translated into immediate action. Without delay, he assessed the emergency confronting the victim and responded to meet the murderous conduct of Logan Williamson with lethal and justified firearm deterrence resulting in the death of Mr. Williamson,” Gmoser said after releasing the grand jury report.

“The conduct of the officer was text book on how the situation should be, and was, handled even though the victim was unable to be saved from the mortal injuries she sustained from the assault by Mr. Williamson prior to and during the officer’s arrival. The law is clear and well settled that the officer acted appropriately and totally within the meaning and spirit of the law governing the situation he faced. He did his duty and upheld the highest traditions of police conduct to protect and serve.”

Gmoser noted the investigation indicates there was ample evidence of abuse of Henry by Williamson, “which she reported”

MORE: Downtown Hamilton robbery suspect caught by police

About the Author