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Man charged after shots reportedly fired at officer

LaCROFT — A local man was charged Monday night after a Liverpool Township police officer reported taking cover as bullets whizzed past his head.

Charged with felonious assault was William P. Price, 59, 1020 Eighth Ave., who allegedly fired a .22-caliber rifle past Patrolman Jay Cargnel as he responded to reports of a domestic dispute between Price and his relatives.

Cargnel was dispatched at 9:30 p.m. to Price’s neighbor’s home where William E. Show, 38, and his wife, Sunshine D. Dailey, 34, had fled after an altercation ensued at Price’s home, where they have been staying.

Show told Cargnel they had all been drinking moonshine at their uncle’s house when Price began “disrespecting and bad-mouthing” his wife, Dailey. Show and Price got into a physical altercation, during which a firearm was brandished and fired. Reports did not specify if Price is Show’s or Dailey’s uncle.

Price reportedly threatened to kill Show and Dailey with the rifle, prompting the couple to flee to the neighbor’s and call police.

While Cargnel was at the neighbor’s questioning Show and Dailey, he reported what sounded like two rounds being fired at Price’s home and the officer drew his sidearm, going back toward Price’s while calling for assistance.

Cargnel reported that, as he neared the house, he could see Price standing on the porch in front of the door, holding the rifle in his hands and he began yelling, identifying himself as a police officer and ordering Price to drop the gun and show his hands.

“At this time I heard what I thought to be five more shots ring out of his rifle in my vicinity, close enough to where I could hear the rounds whistle past me,” Cargnel reported, saying he re-identified himself, again ordering Price to drop the gun and advising the dispatcher of shots fired and that he was holding a man at gunpoint.

When Price realized the officer had his weapon drawn on him, he retreated into his home, giving Cargnel the opportunity to leave the tree he was using for cover and take cover behind a truck in the driveway.

Cargnel again called out to Price, telling him to come out of the house, and after several times ordering him, Price came out with his hands up, but when told to turn around and get onto the ground, Price reportedly showed the officer his middle finger, telling him “(expletive) you.”

Once Cargnel ascertained Price was unarmed, he holstered his firearm and pulled out his Taser, telling Price to get on his stomach with his arms out or it would be deployed. At that point, Price complied, dropping to his knees with his arms out, and the officer was able to put him to the ground and handcuff him.

A search turned up no weapons on Price, who Cargnel reported smelled of alcohol. Price had urinated on himself and was barely steady enough to walk to the cruiser, according to Cargnel.

Officers from St. Clair Township arrived about that time, cleared the house to make sure no one else was inside and recovered the rifle Price reportedly had been firing.

Township Chief Jayson Jackson and other Liverpool Township officers also arrived, as well as city police officers, all of whom assisted at the scene.

Cargnel charged Price and transported him to the county jail.

Afterward, Jackson said, “I commend Patrolman Cargnel, who did an outstanding job of preventing harm or injury to anyone involved by de-escalating the situation quickly and professionally.”

The chief added, “The quick response and cooperation by East Liverpool Police Department, St. Clair Police Department and off-duty Liverpool Township officers is greatly appreciated.”

Price appeared Tuesday in East Liverpool Municipal Court on the felonious assault charge, where acting Judge Nicholas Amato scheduled a preliminary hearing for Dec. 20, with $500,000 cash/surety bond set.

A financial disclosure form completed by Price showed no employment or source of income, and he was found indigent with a public defender appointed.

He was ordered to possess no firearms or ammunition, not to have alcohol or frequent establishments that serve alcohol nor to have any contact with Show, Dailey or Patrolman Cargnel.

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