Dashcam video, dispatcher audio played in officer shot trial

AKRON, Ohio - Twinsburg police officers took the stand Tuesday morning in the trial of a man accused of killing one of their own during a traffic stop about two years ago.

Twinsburg officer Joshua Miktarian was gunned down in July 2008.

During the second day of the trial for suspect Ashford Thompson, the dashcam video from the responding officer was played for the jury, along with the dispatcher recording.

Many people in the courtroom were emotional during the playback of the recordings.

"Officer down!" yelled the dispatcher when realizing Miktarian had been shot.

During opening statements on Monday, the prosecution started building its death penalty case against Thompson, while the defense is trying to spare his life. Assistant prosecutor Brian Loprinzi told the jury the final words Miktarian radioed in just before his murder.

"'Start Reminderville on its way. I need back-up.' Those are the last words Officer Josh Miktarian was heard saying," Loprinzi said.

Prosecutors said Thompson, who had been pulled over for playing loud music around 2 a.m., shot officer Miktarian four times on July 13, 2008.

"There was a contact bullet hole in his forehead and three more bullet holes on the side of his head,” Loprinzi said.

Police found Thompson at his sister’s home in Bedford Heights. Miktarian’s handcuffs were still on his wrists and the murder weapon was found on a stove.

"They tested the gun for DNA and it came back, with no surprise, with blood on it from Josh Miktarian,” Loprinzi said.

Defense attorneys admit Thompson is the killer, but they are hoping for a murder conviction instead of aggravated murder.

"Ashford Thompson, that person right there, took out a gun. With that gun, he shot Officer Josh Miktarian,” defense attorney John Greven said.

A witness named Steven Bartz testified he saw an apparently drunk Thompson at a bar about an hour before the killing and overheard Thompson saying some disturbing things to a woman sitting next to him.

"I will kill any [expletive] that threatens me. Nobody understands the [expletive] I've done and capable of doing,” Bartz recalled to the jury.

The trial is expected to run through next Wednesday.

Keep checking newsnet5.com for the latest information on this case.