Woman shot as cops fire at charging pitbulls

Dog also shot during warrant-related shooting in Willard.
Cary Ashby
Dec 21, 2012


A woman sustained a minor injury when her foot was shot as police used a search warrant Wednesday afternoon. Two Willard men were arrested on felony drug charges.

The 19-year-old Toledo woman was hit in the foot by a bullet about the time officers fired at two charging pitbull dogs, police said. The incident happened at 1:58 p.m. at 631 Pleasant St., Willard.

"No one was killed. It was a minor injury," Willard Police Chief Mark Holden said.

Willard EMS transported the woman to Mercy Willard Hospital, where she was treated and released. Police, citing the ongoing investigation, declined to name the woman.

"We aren't sure what her role is. She needs to be interviewed," Holden said.

An officer who fell as the dogs charged also went to Mercy Willard for treatment. Police also declined to release his name.

When police arrived at 631 Pleasant St. to use the warrant, a male subject saw them and ran into an apartment.

"As he opened the door, two large pitbulls ran from the apartment and charged the officers (who) were pursuing the resident," Holden said.

"As the dogs approached the officers, one officer fired his weapon at the animals and fell as he was trying to retreat. Other officers also fired as the dogs charged the fallen officer," he said.

A Church Street resident who lives about a half block away saw police arrive.

The man, who declined to be identified, said he "heard gun shots automatically" after the officers got out of their vehicles. He estimated the officers fired multiple shots no more than 15 seconds after their arrival.

"And all of a sudden a loud scream," the man said.

One of the dogs was hit and later captured by the Huron County Dog Warden's Office. It was released and transported to a veterinary clinic for treatment.

The witness said he thought police shot both dogs and the woman ran away.

Kyle E. Zarcone, 19, of 309 Dale Ave., and Anthony R. Hicks, 19, of 607 Pleasant St., were arrested and transported to the Huron County Jail. Zarcone was charged with possession of a controlled substance and Hicks was charged with trafficking in marijuana.

Police reported seizing unspecified "evidence indicative of drug trafficking" and a safe. Officers expect to use a search warrant on the safe later.

Willard is handling the ongoing drug investigation.

Holden called in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to handle the shooting investigation. He said his department will remain "hands off."

"They're going to figure out what happened," Holden said about BCI.



"Figure out what happened"? Multiple officers fired multiple rounds at two charging dogs, and only one was hit, along with a human. The p.o.s. who let the dogs loose should be charged with felonious assault for sending the dogs after the officers, plus he holds some responsibility for the woman being injured. I don't fault the cops for shooting, but do for the bad aim or not having and using a non-lethal method of control. Tasers will work on critters, and even if it may be fatal to them, it shouldn't be to most humans who MAY accidentally be in the line of fire. Simple, private, separate interviews of all relevant parties will give you a pretty good idea of "what happened." I understand BCII being involved for processing the scene with drugs involved, but I believe that the Sheriff's office should handle the (potential) criminal investigation concerning the shooting. Of course, maybe they couldn't respond because they are running out of vehicles for road patrol. Finally, is "evidence indicative of drug trafficking" the same as "observed criminal indicators"? Maybe the Patrol could borrow the new verbiage occasionally.


Save it folks with the 'Pitbulls are lovey dovey doggies' nonsense.

Mommy Realist

you must have an ankle bitter lol I have two pits and they are lovey dovey only dumb people raise Dumb dogs...what an Idiot!


I can't believe they called this minor injuries. She requires surgery.
Admit when you make a mistake. We all make mistakes.


Where does it say she requires surgery?


for pete's sake, can any cop in america shoot anymore? and they say the citizens are not responsible with guns anymore! And why is it 9 times out of ten when a search warrant is executed a dog is shot by the cops?

jack langhals

The Keystone Cops Are Back !

Game time

Yikes! Why is the chief refusing to release the officers name if it was just a "minor" injury that the officer called? Talk about a lawsuit coming!

Mommy Realist

a 40 cal in your foot is not gonna cause a minor injury and she had to have surgery just another cover up they all second each others lies!!

Dr. Information

@mommy....take your nipple out of your daughters mouth and tell her that hanging around drug users and abusers and sellers is only going to bring her trouble. Dear Lord, is wasn't like she was just walking down the street and got shot. She was in a DRUG HOUSE during a DRUG BUST.

mommy reallist

@ Doctor Information I am not this girls mother nor do I now her at all you are so full of it yet you think you know everything!!

proud mother of 3

He does think he knows everything, I would not want anyone to find out my identity if I was him after all the horrible things he sais about people on here. My guess is he is a lonely, pathetic man with nothing else to do other than judge others to make his pathetic self fell better!

Lillie Chaos

Agree....in another post, he stated: "As an officer, etc. etc." I asked if that meant he was in law enforcement and had experience.....he, of course, did not respond. Such a head case.....

believe it

I'm glad she got hit, she deserves it for hanging out with a bunch of druggies. None of this would happen if people wouldn't sell or use drugs. It's obvious that the woman shot is using them too, she wouldn't be there just socializing. And if the guy in the house ran away it's obvious he's guilty. Stop using and selling drugs people, it's pretty simple. Bunch of losers that bring nothing to society.


Another paper said she was a bystander not at the house.

Mommy Realist

wow, when did you become Jesus Christ?!?

Dr. Information

Yeah, lets take the focus off the drug activity and the losers in this area and policemen that were doing their job and turn this entire thing into how innocent these dogs are and how innocent this lady was sitting in a drug infested house.

Yall Make Me Sick

I so agree with you. She had to be involved some how. If she is such a good girl why was she located at a drug house?


I have to agree there, what is a young woman from Toledo doing standing in front of a drug house? House shopping or looking for a drug hook up?

Yall Make Me Sick


Mommy Realist

the dogs are innocent! you sound like a dumb ass!

Yall Make Me Sick

You sound dumb. It's a drug bust sweetie. & someone let the dogs out. Now the ? Is.... Who let the dogs out?? It's NOT THE DOGS FAULT IT'S THE OWNER WHO RAISES MEAN DOGS FAULT....


lol I agree with believe it. First off, you people was not there! What would you do if two dogs were coming after you? It's a small town compared to NY. Do you think they (cops) have to go about that everyday. Don't do wrong and you won't have to worry about that stuff.


I don't think she deserved to be shot just because she uses drugs. That was a bit harsh. Right or wrong, she could have been killed! She should have got out of the way though. The only thing the cop did was the only thing he could do (except shoot the woman). Your comment makes sense believe it but not too practical. One can hope!

believe it

I just don't have too much sympathy, if any at all, towards people that either sell drugs, use them, or even associate with people that do drugs. Maybe she didn't deserve it necessarily but if she wouldn't be hanging out with these losers she never would have been hit. And if officers never do search warrants how do we ever clean up the town? Keep it up!

Mommy Realist

you have no sympathy you sit on you computer and judge people all day lol get real...

Yall Make Me Sick

Your judging people to so your no better.

mommy reallist

Judging people and telling the truth is two different things

Yall Make Me Sick

So your Judging there isn't a difference. Bit nice try & as you also sit behind your computer. But that's right you seem it all & know it all right cause you live right there. Ya good for you. You prolly ran so you wouldn't get busted. Call the police station so they can ask you questions. Lol


Just an FYI, it is a very tough shot to hit a small fast moving target such as a pitbull at full charge.