BLANCHESTER — A Blanchester man faces charges after he was waving around a knife and later threated a police officer with that knife, police said.
Shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday police were called to the McDonald’s restaurant at 201 W. Main St. on a report of a man in the parking lot waving a knife around, Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt said in a news release.
“An officer responded but did not see the man,” Reinbolt said. “A call was then received that the same man was in the parking lot of First National Bank at 121 E. Main St. using a knife to threaten a man there.
“Ptl. Tyler Smith found the man walking on the sidewalk in the 100 block of E. Main Street and recognized him as Daniel Walker, age 55, a Blanchester resident. When Ptl. Smith confronted Walker, Walker pulled a knife from his coat pocket and threatened the officer.
“Ptl. Smith ordered, at gunpoint, Walker to drop the knife several times,” Reinbolt continued. “Walker did not comply, advanced on the officer, and challenged the officer to shoot him. A bystander yelled to Walker, Smith ordered him again to drop the knife, and Walker complied. Ptl. Smith told Walker he was under arrest, and after a brief struggle, was able to place handcuffs on Walker.”
Ptl. Smith called for assistance during the encounter, and that call was answered by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. “We are grateful for their assistance,” said Reinbolt.
Ptl. Smith transported Walker to the Clinton County Jail, where he was booked on charges of aggravated menacing and resisting arrest. He was to answer the charges in Clinton County Municipal Court on Monday.
“I would like to point out that under these circumstances, the United States Constitution would have permitted Ptl. Smith to use deadly force,” said Reinbolt. “It is a tribute to Ptl. Smith’s training and skill as a policeman that he was able to bring this incident under control without having to do so.”
