Jefferson County Sheriff releases details about Monday's Amber Alert ordeal

STEUBENVILLE – The 43-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped his 7-year-old daughter Monday in Empire told 911 dispatchers he was going to kill her and then himself before a Medina County police sniper shot him dead, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said Tuesday.

Authorities said Charles Ryan Alexander died after a standoff with police in Medina Township ended in gunfire. Cleveland’s WKYC-TV reported that the drama unfolded in the Arby’s parking lot near the intersection of Interstate 71 and Ohio 18.

The child, Oaklynn Alexander, was not physically injured and was reunited with her mother hours later. She was identified in an Amber Alert issued Monday afternoon.

Abdalla said Medina County Sheriff Terry Grice “Did a great job.”

Charles Alexander ‘had made threats to harm herself and Oaklynn’ Abdalla said Tuesday afternoon. “At one point we were able to see through drone footage that he actually pointed his gun at his daughter and demanded to talk to the mother on the phone so (Oaklynn) could say goodbye to her.

‘In my mind I believe he would have done it’ said Abdalla, who said he knows Alexander, his ex-wife and their family well. “Fortunately, the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team was on scene and an opportunity presented itself and a trooper made the decision to neutralize him.”

He said at one point, Alexander posted live on Facebook, ranting about his ex-wife, her attorney and Jefferson County.

In that broadcast, an upset Alexander said to everyone watching: “Jefferson County, you did this. You did this because you took my daughter – I’ve already lost two children, I’m not going to lose a third child,’ and said to his ex: ‘Now you’re going to know what it’s like. It didn’t have to be this way.”

Abdalla said that during the 911 calls to the dispatch center, the girl could be heard in the background screaming: “I don’t want to die, don’t let him shoot me.”

‘She was terrified’ he said. “I think she’s completely shocked now, traumatized.”

Abdalla, who was already in Sandusky, Ohio, for training on Monday with two of his officers, said the child was snatched from her grandmother’s car as she returned home from school. He said he was told Charles Alexander tried to pick up his daughter from school at the end of a Veterans Day program. “but the school was aware of the custody problems” and refused to let him take her.

He said the grandmother picked her up from school and when they arrived at her home in Empire “Sir. Alexander was in the house almost at the same time.

“He stopped right behind them and pulled Oaklynn off the back of the car,” Abdalla said. “The child was screaming and yelling and wouldn’t go with her father, and several family members tried to stop him, but they couldn’t. He left the area and crashed into a bystander (while fleeing).

The child’s mother, the custodial parent, had posted on social media Monday that her ex-husband “I almost plowed through my entire family to take her.”

Abdalla said when his officers were notified, they alerted law enforcement agencies across the state and region that a child had been taken — prompting the Amber Alert — as well as the 9-1-1 center. “and (they) started pinging his phone for us.”

“We became aware that Mr. Alexander had abandoned his vehicle,” Abdalla said. “We believe he stole a U-Haul vehicle and drove further north. At some point, the U-Haul was picked up (a license plate reader) and Brunswick police became aware of his whereabouts and began pursuing him. He didn’t want to stop. They tried to use stop sticks to stop him, but they couldn’t. Finally he came to a halt in Madinah.”

Neither Grice nor Medina Sheriff’s Deputy Captain Eric Bors could be reached for comment Tuesday, but in a statement on the department’s Facebook page they said police attempted to negotiate with the armed suspect and spoke to several dispatchers by phone. had communicated.

“Multiple gunshots were fired during an officer-involved shooting (and) Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene,” they said. “No officers were injured during the incident.”

Abdalla echoed their comments and echoed Alexander “had threatened to hurt his daughter.”

“He called… and said he wanted to talk to the mother so Oaklynn could say goodbye. He hinted at insulting himself and harming her. I truly feel that if that officer had not taken that shot, that child would have been killed. I feel sorry for the guy who had to take the photo, he’ll have to live with it. I’m sure (it weighs on him), but he saved that girl’s life. I have no doubt, because of the grudge he had for (his ex), that he would have killed that little girl to ruin her life. Fortunately, Oaklynn was not physically injured. However, the emotional trauma that the girl had to endure was unimaginable. I just pray that this girl can recover from that trauma and live a happy life.”

He said he arrived in Medina in record time and was able to talk to Oaklynn as she sat in the back of an ambulance. Once she was released into police custody, he said he and his officers, along with Grice, sat with her.

“We drew pictures, played games, tic-tac-toe and waited for her mother to arrive.” Abdalla said, adding that when her mother walked in, “it was very emotional. She gave that girl a huge hug. It was one of the best moments I’ve had as sheriff.

“He has family too, and I’m sure their hearts are hurting today, but my only concern was that child, making sure we got her back in one piece.”

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