Stolen Cruiser Turns Into a Deadly Shootout

Reconstructed timeline

Times from synchronized camera clocks and dispatch records.

1. 9:06 PM

   911 call: truck crashed into a house

   Initial 911 call reports a vehicle wrecked into a house at 827 E High Ave / 8th St NE and that a man was seen running on foot down Ashwood Lane and into an alley. The homeowner is confirmed uninjured. Minute-level precision (CAD call-time stamp).

2. 9:07 PM

   TCSO deputies dispatched to assist NPPD

   Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office units are assigned/en route to assist New Philadelphia PD in locating the driver who fled the crash.

3. 9:08 PM

   Deputy's BWC begins; locates Flynn on foot

   Officer 1's body-worn camera begins recording as he drives; he is first to reach the area, turning south on 8th St SE from Fair Ave NE, and comes into contact with a male (Flynn) near 124 8th St NE.

4. 9:09 PM1:45

   Deputy exits cruiser; Flynn gets into it

   Almost immediately after the deputy exits his cruiser (presumably to speak with Flynn), Flynn opens the passenger door and enters the vehicle, ending up in the driver's seat.

5. 9:09 PM1:45

   Deputy commands Flynn out of the cruiser

   Deputy reaches the open passenger door and repeatedly commands "Get out of my car." Flynn, seated in the driver's seat, responds "It's me" multiple times. At 21:09:30 the deputy warns "I will shoot you." Independently corroborated by a neighbor's cellphone video and BWC audio.

6. 9:09 PM1:58

   Flynn breaks free, reaches for vehicle controls

   Flynn says "Look at me brother," then gets free of the deputy's grip, faces forward, and begins grabbing vehicle controls. The deputy continues ordering him out and again warns he will shoot.

7. 9:10 PM

   Deputy fires his duty weapon

   Deputy fires multiple rounds as he moves out of/away from the cruiser doorway. A shell casing is visible ejecting on his BWC; three gunshots are independently heard on at least five neighboring home-security cameras and a cellphone video (Cindy Abel, 202 8th St).

8. 9:10 PM

   Deputy falls to the roadway; Flynn drives off in the cruiser

   Deputy falls out of the cruiser and lands on the roadway. Flynn, now driving, leaves the scene in the marked TCSO Explorer.

9. 9:10 PM1:58

   Radio: "Shots fired! He took my car! He's headed towards Philly."

   Deputy, out of breath and in distress, radios that shots were fired and Flynn took his cruiser. Dispatch acknowledges at 21:10:07. CAD separately logs at 21:10:12 that "suspect took [deputy's] cruiser," and at 21:10:44 the deputy radios "I hit my finger."

10. 9:10 PM

    Deputy Donley (Unit 38) picks up the pursuit

    Unit 38 (Deputy Stephanie Donley) radios she is on 4th St Ext following the stolen cruiser, then reports seeing Flynn on East High Street, losing sight, and regaining sight near Fourth Street.

11. 9:10 PM

    Stolen cruiser crashes into a parked car

    Flynn drives the stolen cruiser south on 8th St NE, west on East High Ave, south on 7th Dr SE, then east on Bank Lane SE (which becomes Tell St SE), striking a parked Hyundai Elantra (OH plate GGW8950) near 850 East High Avenue. The struck car is knocked across the street. Recorded independently…

12. 9:11 PM4:35

    Deputy Donley confronts the crashed cruiser

    Donley is heard on a neighbor's camera shouting "Get out of the car" and "Show me your hands" at the crashed cruiser.

13. 9:12 PM

    OSHP Trooper Duvall arrives

    Trooper Duvall arrives on Tell Avenue NE and exits his cruiser (his BWC video is described in the investigative file but is not included in this evidence set).

14. 9:13 PM3:16

    Flynn extracted from the cruiser

    An NPPD officer opens the driver's door and, with Trooper Duvall's help, removes Flynn from the vehicle; officers begin first aid. Donley's BWC times the door opening at 21:13:31 and extraction at 21:13:58 - a normal few-second spread across two officers' independent cameras.

15. 9:15 PM

    Flynn found to have no pulse

    NPFD EMS personnel advise Flynn has no pulse. CAD radio traffic separately logs "No pulse at this time" at 21:16:03/21:16:32.

16. 9:16 PM

    NPFD EMS ambulance arrives, takes over Flynn's care

    Ambulance arrives on scene; EMS personnel take over care of Flynn from officers performing first aid.

17. 9:20 PM

    Union ER notified of incoming gunshot trauma patient

    Tell St command requests Union Emergency Room be advised of a "30ish year-old male" in trauma arrest from a shooting.

18. 9:26 PM

    Flynn identified by name

    Radio traffic identifies the registered owner/"victim" as Matthew Flynn.

19. 9:30 PM

    Deputy transported to Aultman Hospital

    Officer 1 is transported to Aultman Hospital in Canton; dispatch requests his wife be notified and advised he is okay.

20. 9:44 PM

    Flynn arrives at Union Hospital ED

    Matthew Flynn arrives at the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Emergency Department via New Philadelphia Fire Department ambulance.

21. 9:49 PM

    Ohio BCI notified

    TCSO dispatch notifies the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation about the shooting, triggering the officer-involved-critical-incident investigation.

22. 10:07 PM

    Deputy admitted to Aultman Hospital ED

    Officer 1 is admitted to Aultman Hospital's Emergency Department with a gunshot wound to his left index finger and pain to his right leg/shin.

23. 2:28 AM

    Deputy transferred to Cleveland Clinic Akron General

    After initial treatment, Officer 1 is transferred by ambulance and admitted to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital for advanced/orthopedic treatment; discharged 4/2/2024 at 16:25.

24. 9:00 AM

    Autopsy performed

    Dr. Daniel Sullivan performs Matthew Flynn's autopsy at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. A projectile is later recovered from the left chest during evidence processing; the report's cause-of-death text is redacted/blank in the released copy.