The Franklin County Sheriff's Office still hasn't said why the car 21-year-old Daveonte Dixon was a passenger in was pulled over by Mifflin Township Police last week.
Dixon allegedly shot and injured two Mifflin Township Police officers and led national, state and local police on a three-day manhunt. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation and released body-worn camera footage from the two injured officers, but has not revealed the reason for the traffic stop.
The agency told WOSU after a public records request that it is not releasing the rest of the video yet, which could show what led to the traffic stop. Body camera footage released last week starts right when Dixon exited the passenger side of the vehicle when officers had already arrived and were speaking to the unnamed driver.
The scene quickly unfolded, with a person authorities identified as Dixon, firing his gun seconds later, injuring the two officers. Dixon then fled the scene, evading police for nearly three days before he was arrested last Friday at an Obetz apartment.
Dixon is still recovering in a hospital after shooting himself while barricaded inside the apartment.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Maria Durant said footage showing what happened prior to when the edited video started won't be released until the investigation is complete.
WOSU questioned Durant about why the sheriff's office chose to release an edited version of the video even though that part of the incident is also still under investigation. The minutes prior to the traffic stop could show why officers pulled over the vehicle.
Durant said the reason for the traffic stop is still under investigation.
Durant said the sheriff's office, as the main investigators, are trying to be as transparent as they can and aren't trying to hide anything.
"I think it was just a regular traffic stop and (the officers) didn't know what would happen," Durant said.
Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9 President Brian Steel said he was told the car Dixon was in was pulled over because the car was sitting in the middle of the road. Steel said the two Mifflin Township officers were performing their fundamental duty to enforce traffic and get the vehicle out of the middle of the road.
Steel said he doesn't know why the Franklin County Sheriff's Office won't release the reason for the traffic stop or the earlier portion of the body camera video.
When officials were first asked about the reason for the traffic stop at a press conference the day after the shooting, Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Rick Minerd said they hadn't yet questioned the injured officers.
"As you can imagine, these officers are injured, and so they're not really in a position to answer a lot of detailed questions. And so we wouldn't wanna interview them while... one under sedation and the other one having medical care," Minerd said last Thursday.
At least one of the two officers has been released from the hospital. The other officer underwent three surgeries from the gunshot wounds.
WOSU tried to contact the Mifflin Township Police Department and went to their office on Friday. No one from the department answered the phone or the door.
The fence, call-in button and office security camera had blue ribbons tied around them as a show of support for the injured officers.
There were five Mifflin Township Police Department squad cars parked at the building.
