WEST CHESTER, Ohio — The man who allegedly shot and killed a Kentucky deputy is also a suspect in at least one burglary in West Chester, according to the West Chester Police Department.
Steven Sheangshang, 45, is accused of killing Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley, 35, Monday during a traffic stop on I-75. Sheangshang then allegedly held a pastor at gunpoint, stole his car and then drove to Lexington, investigators said.
According to police, Sheangshang also shot another person on Georgetown Road before stealing that victim's vehicle. He was finally arrested around 6:45 p.m. Monday.
A day before the shooting, Sheangshang was under investigation in West Chester for burglarizing open garages in the Beckett Ridge neighborhood, according West Chester Township. Police said Sheangshang was named as an official suspect in at least one of those burglaries.
"So it was definitely, this was evil at its worst that day," said Chief Joel Herzog during Tuesday's township meeting. "He was hitting all over, he was actually spotted — Captain Hoffbauer spotted him the day before over on the west side of Cincinnati and then we made the connection he was in West Chester."
Lee Wong, a West Chester Township trustee, talked about how frightening the incident is.
"It was an awful, awful incident — it could be one of our officers if he was stopped here," Wong said. "We need to secure our car, take any valuables inside the house, close the garage and make it less attractive. You never know, a guy like that will pull out a gun and kill you."
Fort Mitchell police also confirmed to WCPO that Sheanshang was the prime suspect for stealing a power generator from a home sometime last week. Nextdoor App video obtained by WCPO shows a man pulling up in a driveway, getting out of the car, going into a garage, walking out with a power generator, putting it in his car and driving away.
"The West Chester Police Department honors the courage and sacrifice of Scott County Kentucky Sheriff's Department Deputy Caleb Conley," the township wrote on Facebook. "Deputy Conley's service and impact were felt in communities like ours well beyond the boundaries of his beat in Scott County. Our prayers and condolences are with his family and his law enforcement brothers and sisters."
Sheangshang is facing charges of murder of a police officer, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, burglary, theft by unlawful taking of automobile, wanton endangerment first degree and fleeing or evading police first degree, according to his arrest citation.
His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
Sheangshang was released from jail in February of this year after serving nearly fourteen years on theft charges out of Harrison and Campbell counties in Kentucky, and cases out of Ohio.
He also had multiple prior cases out of Clermont County, including one indictment in 1998 on charges of aggravated robbery and felonious assault, according to court records.
Conley is the first fallen officer with the Scott County Sheriff's Department. In Scott County as a whole, the Georgetown Police Department has lost three in the line of duty. Conley served in the US Army for eight years and has been with the Scott County Sheriff's Office for four years. He leaves behind a wife and small children.
A memorial fund has been set up for the family of Deputy Conley.
Our Lexington partners at WLEX contributed to some of the reporting in this article.
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