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HOWLAND -- Officers from the Howland Township Police Department and the Mahoning Valley Crisis Response Team (MVCRT) were cleared of any wrongdoing by the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office in an August 2023 officer-involved shooting that killed Randall Fife.
In the 24-page report, Prosecutor Dennis Watkins concluded, "The responding officers' actions and use of force were appropriate and justified. There will be no grand jury presentment or action against the officers involved."
Hiding under a bed in an upstairs bedroom, the girlfriend of Fife requested police assistance around 8:10 p.m. Aug. 22, 2023, at 3639 Highlawn Ave. SE in Howland.
She told police that Fife, 35, was armed with a shotgun and "going crazy," as Fife's mother and brother were barricaded in another bedroom.
Howland police arrived to see an armed Fife, forcing them to retreat to a secured area, the report states.
Using a patrol car's public address system, police made unsuccessful attempts to speak with Fife, and he ended a brief cellphone contact.
MVCRT were contacted to assist with a three-person hostage situation. After more than 10 hours of attempting to negotiate with Fife failed, and a loss of communication with Fife's girlfriend, authorities decided to make a forcible entry into the home.
About 6:35 a.m., an explosive charge was used to open the rear kitchen door. As MVCRT members attempted to enter the house, Fife opened fire, injuring four officers, a police report states.
The MVCRT team returned fire, and Fife was struck while reloading the shotgun. Fife, along with officers Kenneth Garling and Nicholas Newland, were transported to the hospital. Fife died of his injuries on Aug. 28, 2023.
Howland Township police Chief Nick Roberts requested the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to conduct an independent investigation. BCI Special Agent Cory Momchilov led the investigation, assisted by other agents and forensic scientists.
The investigation concluded that the use of force by the officers was justified. Randall Fife, who suffered from mental illness, including paranoia and delusions, posed an immediate threat by firing upon officers as they attempted to free the hostages.
The officers' response was deemed reasonable given the circumstances, the report states.
The thorough investigation and work by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, BCI, and the MVCRT were acknowledged by Watkins. The case is now closed, and the BCI report, including various exhibits and documents, has been deemed a public record.