MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — The man accused of injuring a Middletown officer in an “ambush type situation” is being held on a $1 million bond.
Jason Cooper, 49, was in Middletown Municipal Court with visible cuts on his face, neck and arms Wednesday. He did not have an attorney present.
According to Chief Rodney Muterspaw, Cooper approached an officer with a knife Feb. 28, stole his cruiser and and intentionally hit another police cruiser. Someone had called police early that morning to report Cooper was intoxicated and hiding in bushes.
When Officer Patrick Glassburn arrived at the scene, Cooper came out of the bushes and approached him while holding a knife. Glassburn shocked Cooper with a Taser, but couldn’t stop Cooper from driving off and crashing into another police cruiser, leaving significant damage.
Both officers at the scene went to the hospital but are OK, police said.
Cooper is charged with aggravated battery, felonious assault, grand theft firearm and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
The morning of the crash, police said Cooper was using an app on his phone to listen to Middletown police’s scanners.
A judge set Cooper’s next court hearing for March 13.
