Police video released Wednesday shows a northwest Ohio man holding a gun to his head, running naked through the street and attempting to fire at officers.
The Toledo Police Department (TPD) received a call from concerned parties on West Sylvania Avenue at approximately 2:15 p.m. reporting a shirtless, barefoot suspect was brandishing a gun, pointing it at people and threatening to kill himself and the man who had given him the gun. video A 911 caller can be heard pleading with police not to hurt the suspect or let him hurt anyone else. The suspect was “just angry,” the caller said.
TPD identified the suspect as Joshua David Garner.
According to reports, TPD officers found Garner in the backyard of a home and ordered him to surrender. Garner verbally refused and allegedly fled through houses onto nearby Charlestown Road. Video shows Garner stopping in a driveway and removing his shorts while holding a gun to his head.
“Stop, man! Stop! Put your gun down!” the officer, who identified himself as Officer Scott Histed, repeatedly yelled.
The video shows a naked Garner, still holding the gun, running toward nearby Kershaw Street, ignoring Officer Histed's repeated calls to “Stop!”
According to Toronto police Lt. Paul Davis, who is seen on the video, at one point Garner pointed a gun at Histed, who then fired shots at Garner, the video shows. Minutes later, while fleeing, Garner appears to return fire from Histed, forcing Garner to take cover behind a tree while backup officers were called to the scene.
According to the video, Garner dropped the gun and officers arrested him. (RELATED: Police shoot and kill bleeding, suicidal man who lunged at officers with what appeared to be a sword, video shows)
As he lay naked in the grass during his arrest, Garner yelled, “Please let me go! I can't breathe!,” “Please, I want to die!,” and “I don't want to hurt anyone,” as well as yelling profanities. As officers escorted him to a police vehicle, Garner asked for water, spoke about his wife, and said he didn't want to hurt the officers.
Neither Officer Histed nor Officer Garner were injured, and Officer Garner was taken to the hospital “as a precaution,” Davis said.
Davis added that officers later discovered Garner had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for domestic violence.
Garner will be charged with assault on a police officer, a first-degree felony, according to Lt. Davis.
TPD has reportedly placed Officer Histed on administrative leave.