BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Jacob Davidson, 41, of Centerburg, officially ended his three-year relationship with Bucyrus this Wednesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. His connection to Bucyrus was marked by a series of violent incidents that began in 2022 when he fled Morrow County and headed toward Bucyrus. Davidson’s legal troubles escalated after he was apprehended in Bucyrus following a dangerous traffic incident. During a traffic stop attempt in the 100 block of East Charles Street, Bucyrus Police Officer Devin Wireman activated his patrol car’s lights to pull Davidson over. Instead of complying, Davidson turned around and opened fire from inside his vehicle. In response, Officer Wireman returned fire.

One shot struck Davidson in his helmet, prompting him to take cover inside his car and subsequently surrender to the police. Wireman later recounted observing Davidson driving with a silver motorcycle helmet and a rifle in his lap, as well as damage to his rear window, which led him to pursue the suspect. Bucyrus Police Lt. Curt Bursby assisted Wireman in a second vehicle for a successful apprehension.

Then, in December of 2022, Davidson managed to escape from the Twin Valley Behavioral Center in Columbus, a lockdown facility designated for evaluating his competency. Though he was ultimately deemed competent to stand trial, Davidson opted for a negotiated plea deal, represented by attorney Jerry Thompson.

Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Davidson to 11 to 16 years for assaulting a police officer, classified as a first-degree felony, and six years for each of the three counts of second-degree felonious assault. In total, Davidson faces a prison sentence ranging from 29 to 34 and a half years behind bars.

Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall shared the following statement regarding the Davidson case:

“Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley did a fantastic job of working with law enforcement from the Bucyrus Police Department, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, and the Licking County Sheriff’s Office as portions of this offense occurred across this region,”

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) assisted in this investigation.