by Andrew Schunk

Editor

Twinsburg -- Glenwood Drive resident Ashford Thompson, 23, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated murder July 14 in connection with the July 13 fatal shooting of Twinsburg Police Officer Josh Miktarian.

Miktarian was the first Twinsburg police officer to die in the line of duty in the 53-year history of the department, according to Twinsburg police.

Thompson was arraigned by video from Summit County Jail before Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court Judge Kim Hoover, who set bail at $5 million cash for Thompson, according to officials with the Cuyahoga Falls Clerk of Court's office.

A preliminary hearing has been set for July 21 at 2:45 p.m., officials said. Police expect the case to be bound over to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas.

Bedford Heights police arrested Thompson July 13, less than an hour after Miktarian, 33, was shot four times in the head with a "medium caliber bullet," according to the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office, following a early morning traffic stop near Thompson's home on Glenwood Drive.

According to Twinsburg Police Officer Tom Austin, another person was in the vehicle driven by Thompson at the time of a traffic stop that preceded the shooting. The passenger's identity is not being released, Austin said, and no other details are being disclosed.

The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office has ruled Miktarian's death a homicide, according to Director of Public Affairs for the office Powell Caesar. Caesar said "any one of the four shots could have killed [Miktarian]."

A joint investigation into the shooting between the Twinsburg Police Department and the Summit County Sheriff's Office is ongoing.

Details of fatal shooting

Police say Miktarian, an 11-year K-9 officer with the city, pulled over Thompson for suspicion of loud music and operating a vehicle under the influence near Thompson's home in the 2400 block of Glenwood Drive.

According to Austin, Miktarian stopped Thompson's vehicle at 1:54 a.m. and requested assistance over the radio at 1:56 a.m. A 911 call was placed "at nearly the same time" by a resident from the same block of Glenwood Drive to Twinsburg dispatch, Austin said.

"The 911 caller reported hearing shouting between two people and popping sounds," he said.

At 1:57 a.m. a "status check" of Miktarian was radioed from Twinsburg dispatch to Miktarian's cruiser. There was no response from the officer, Austin said.

Officers from Twinsburg and surrounding communities immediately responded to the scene, where they discovered Miktarian on the ground near his cruiser.

The officer was transported by medical helicopter to Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, where he was pronounced dead at 2:48 a.m., according to Twinsburg police.

Bagio, the K-9 German Shepard that teamed with Miktarian, was found in the back of Miktarian's cruiser and was uninjured, according to police.

According to police, Thompson had fled the scene but was apprehended at 2:41 a.m. by Bedford Heights police without incident at a home on Cambridge Road in Bedford Heights.

A firearm of unknown caliber was recovered as evidence, Austin said, and a set of Miktarian's handcuffs was attached to one of Thompson's wrists when Bedford Heights police took him into custody.

Officer was father, owner of pizzeria

Prior to joining the Twinsburg force Feb. 24, 1997, Miktarian had worked as a police officer in Uniontown. He had recently resumed part-time police work in Uniontown, "to give back to his roots," Twinsburg Police Chief Chris Noga said.

Miktarian graduated from Tallmadge High School in 1993 and lived in Tallmadge with his wife, Holly, an Oakwood police officer, and 3-month-old daughter, Thea.

Friends say Miktarian owned a Gionino's Pizza establishment in Sagamore Hills, and enjoyed playing in his rock band, Barium.

There have been at least two public vigils since Miktarian's death, each with hundreds in attendance. Check www.twinsburgbulletin.com for funeral arrangements, and donations can be made to any Fifth Third Bank in care of the Twinsburg Police Association, Austin said.

E-mail: aschunk@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3170