Local News WMRN

Local News WMRN

 

TEDDY THOMAS III: GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER & MORE

MARION COUNTY – Following a trial in Marion County Common Pleas Court, a jury found 32- year-old Marion City resident Teddy Thomas III guilty on five counts, stemming from an incident of domestic violence that escalated to attempted murder of a police officer. Thomas now faces a maximum possible sentence of 41.5 years in prison.

On the night of February 12, 2022, officers responded to a disturbance call at a home on Fies Avenue in Marion. The victim, the mother of Thomas's children, had called 911 after Thomas had brutally attacked her outside her home. Fearing for her life, she hid inside a bedroom and stashed her children in a closet.

The situation worsened when Thomas, undeterred, broke a window to gain entry to the house. Upon the arrival of officers, Thomas swung a machete at Officer Caleb Rector's head, a moment chillingly captured on the body cam of Officer Nick Guerkink. Thomas then ran down the hall and barricaded himself in a back room, resulting in a two-hour standoff and necessitating street closure.

Following a careful examination of the evidence, the jury found Thomas guilty of Attempted Murder of a police officer, a First Degree Felony, Felonious Assault on a police officer, also a First Degree Felony, Burglary, a Second Degree Felony, Domestic Violence, a Fourth Degree Felony, and Inducing Panic, a Fifth Degree Felony.

"I want to extend my gratitude to the jurors for their careful deliberation and commitment to fulfilling their civic duty," said Prosecuting Attorney Ray Grogan after the trial. "It’s their thorough examination of the evidence that allowed us to secure justice in this case."

As the case concluded, Grogan also reflected on the broader significance of the trial. "It's important to remember that our task as prosecutors is about more than any single case. It's about ensuring the safety of all Marion County residents, and we can only do this because of the bravery of law enforcement officers like Caleb Rector," he said. "Our pursuit of justice for Teddy Thomas's victims sends a clear message to our community and any would-be criminals: violence and lawlessness have no place here."

Prosecutor Grogan recognized the important investigation work of Marion Police and the courtroom work of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Justin Frey. “I’m proud of our entire team,” Grogan concluded.

Sentencing by Judge Matthew P. Frericks will occur at a later date.


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