COLUMBUS – No one was injured when a Columbus police officer fired at a fleeing robbery suspect who was eventually captured Tuesday night after a pursuit from the West Side to Upper Arlington where the suspect vehicle was involved in a crash.
UPDATE 5/30/19 9:25 a.m.: This article has been edited to include the name of the officer
Officer Todd Koah, a nine-year veteran of the Division of Police, was working a special duty assignment when he radioed that shots had been fired out of an attempted robbery at the Certified Gas Station at 3204 W. Broad Street at 6:29 p.m., Division of Police spokeswoman Sgt. Chantay Boxill said.
Koah was alerted that John Jenkins had entered the business, displayed a weapon and demanded money from the cashier. Boxill says when Jenkins saw the officer he ran from the business and, during the brief foot chase, Koah saw Jenkins reach for his weapon and the officer fired shots at him but did not hit him.
Jenkins got into a waiting vehicle, driven by Rachel Sipple, which drove away.
During the pursuit, the vehicle eventually crashed into a tree at the intersection of N. Star Road and Essex Road in Upper Arlington.
Jenkins, 26, and Sipple, 20, were taken into custody without further incident. The investigation continues and charges are pending, Boxill said
No one was injured during the incident and the weapon recovered at the scene turned out to be a pellet gun, Boxill said.