FINDLAY—A tip from a concerned public citizen led to the capture of a man on the run after an officer was shot in a scuffle during a traffic stop.
Trooper Josef Brobst from the Findlay post of the Ohio State High Patrol initiated a traffic stop involving Robert Hathorn, who was speeding. A scuffle ensued, and Trooper Brobst’s firearm discharged, hitting him in the leg below his protective vest.
Hathorn fled in his vehicle, which was later recovered. After more than 14 hours on the run, a citizen reported that they thought the suspect was on Township Road 223 in Findlay.
When the call went out, twelve different agencies, including federal partners, descended on the area with full lights and sirens; “It was quite dramatic. When it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.” Sgt. Ryan Purpura said.
Hathorn was taken into custody without incident but did have a wound to his hand from the altercation last night. Trooper Brobst’s injuries are not life-threatening.
Sgt. Purpura expressed law enforcement’s appreciation to the citizens that kept a lookout for Hathorn and called their tips in to law enforcement:
“We owe a lot to the community. We reached out, and they came through.”
The investigation continues, and Crawford County Now will report updates as they become available.