Grand jury to consider shooting by deputy

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Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk says a Pike County off duty deputy charged in the shooting death of another man has had his bond set at $100,000 at 10 percent pending an initial court appearance set for Monday. Joel Jenkins, 31, of Waverly has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jason Brady, 40 at Jenkins home on Dec. 3.

“He made bond yesterday,” Junk said.

Junk said the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office had a special grand jury set for Thursday. He said he expected an indictment to come forth in the next couple of days. Ironically, the grand jury was already scheduled to hear another shooting case involving Jenkins. The charge stems from an incident in March, in which Robert Rooker, 26, also of Pike County was shot following a pursuit by deputies. Junk says Jenkins was involved in that shooting as well.

“It started out as a chase in Jasper (Pike Co.),” Junk told the Daily Times at the time. “The original deputy I believe was trying to stop him from a speed offense. He tried to pull the guy over unsuccessfully. Then there were two other deputies on duty at the time and they joined in the pursuit. They were the primary officers involved and they chased him (Rooker) all the way to Field’s Hollow, which is about a mile or so outside of Latham (Pike Co.).”

At the time of the incident, authorities refused to release the name of the deputy involved in the shooting. Junk now says that was Jenkins, who was involved in last week’s incident.

“It (indictment in Brady case) has to be done by next Wednesday (Dec. 16) because he’s got that preliminary hearing set next Wednesday,” Junk said.

Special Agent Kevin Barbeau, of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, filed charges in Pike County Court on Dec. 4.

In a lengthy narrative released to the news media, Pike County Sheriff Charles S. Reader said Jenkins called his office to report an accidental shooting at his residence. When he responded to the scene, he immediately took a hands-off approach and turned the scene over to BCI&I, and that his office was not involved in the questioning of Jenkins or witnesses.

That night, Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader reported that Jenkins had called his office to report an accidental shooting at his residence. As a result of the incident, Jenkins’ neighbor, Jason Brady, 40, was killed. Later, Reader terminated Jenkins’ employment with the sheriff’s office.

According to BCI&I’s investigation Jenkins apparently was using a weapon while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Jenkins was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony.

By Frank Lewis

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Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

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