Seven Toledo police officers shot Jason Means 22 times on Wednesday. Means’ wife, Nicole Ramell, told WTOL 11 that she called the police for help.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Seven Toledo police officers shot 47-year-old Jason Means 22 times on Wednesday. Along with Toledo Mayor Wade Kapuskiewicz, TPD interim chief Michael Troendl hosted a press conference on Friday to release body camera footage and a recording of his 911 call.
Troendle said at least two officers had been certified in crisis intervention training and all officers involved had read a book in terms of keeping the situation from escalating. He argued that officers had no choice when it came to firing weapons.
Means’ wife, Nicole Ramell, told WTOL 11 that she called the police for help that night.
“I told them he was mentally ill,” Rahmel said. “He’s unresponsive. He doesn’t understand orders. Don’t shoot him.” Please don’t kill me.”
Troendle claimed that Means’ mental health had been an issue over the years.
“The 911 call says he’s been dealing with this issue since he was a teenager. He’s 47 now,” Troendle said.
According to Troendle, officers only opened fire after Means fired and then turned their weapons on them.
“It’s going to take decades to address that problem,” Troendle says. “I expect them to resolve a long-standing problem as opposed to a five-minute dialogue with the police. That’s not possible.”
Troendle said he stopped counting the number of times officers ordered Means to drop his weapon 25 times while watching body camera footage.
He said Toledans who have firearms in their homes or loved ones suffering from mental health problems should call the police and take their weapons away.
