A 36-year-old Trenton, Ohio, man is now lodged in the Warren County Jail after allegedly firing at law enforcement officers during a pursuit that ended in an officer-involved shooting late Sunday, July 12, in Warrenton.
The suspect, identified as Daniel Ortman, was struck in the upper right shoulder. He was treated, released from the hospital on July 13 and booked into jail. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
According to the Warren County Sheriff's Department, deputies responded around 11:15 p.m. to a report of a suspicious U-Haul box truck parked on Highway EE near Low Gap Road. The caller reported the truck's doors were open, an apparent AR-15-style rifle was visible on the driver's seat, a man was inside the vehicle and a gunshot had been heard.
Deputies located the truck and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled. Authorities said Ortman fired multiple rounds from the moving truck at pursuing deputies during the chase, prompting assistance from the Warrenton and Wright City police departments, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the St. Charles County Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
The pursuit ended near First State Community Bank in Warrenton after officers deployed spike strips. Investigators said Ortman exited the truck armed with what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle and continued firing despite repeated commands to drop the weapon. Officers returned fire, striking Ortman in the upper right shoulder.
The sheriff's department said Ortman later told investigators he had been using methamphetamine, had not slept for several days and believed people were trying to harm him.
