TURTLECREEK TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Middletown man has been indicted on several counts related to a car chase and shootout with law enforcement officers in Turtlecreek Township on the evening of Aug. 31, Prosecutor David Fornshell announced Monday evening.
During the incident, 36-year-old James Hubbard shot in the direction of several law enforcement officers, striking 21-year veteran Middletown K-9 officer Denny Jordan. Officials said Jordan was struck in the left shoulder, tricep, right hand and right thigh. He was treated at Atrium Medical Center and released that same evening. Jordan’s K-9 partner, Koda, was not injured.
During the incident, Hubbard was struck between 11 and 13 times by gunfire from the officers at the scene. He survived his injuries and is currently in police custody.
“The evidence conclusively established that Hubbard had advised his parole officer of his intention to get into a shootout with police,” Fornshell said. “When that opportunity became available, he made good on his threat. Despite several requests from law enforcement officers to comply with apprehension, video evidence proves that Hubbard fired multiple shots at three officers, striking Officer Jordan, before other law enforcement officers returned fire. Under these circumstances, law enforcement officers were completely justified in their use of deadly force to apprehend Hubbard.”
Hubbard faces three counts of aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of felonious assault, failure to comply with an order or signal of police officer, two counts of having weapons under disability, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and assaulting a police dog.
