A Newcomerstown, OH, police officer who claimed he was shot by two armed suspects last week, prompting a search for the shooters, fabricated the story, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Tuesday.
Last Monday, 37-year-old Bryan Eubanks told authorities that he had been pursuing two suspects in a black Geo Tracker on Johnson Hill Road in Newcomerstown, when they began shooting at his patrol car, striking him in the arm.
Police put out an alert for the suspects, at one point even releasing a photo of one of the men, only to clear that person's name a short time later. After further investigation, and speaking with witnesses, the sheriff's office found Eubanks' statements to be contradictory, Fox 8 TV reports.
During questioning, Eubanks said he lied about the story after a failed suicide attempt. Officials say while they believe Eubanks caused his own injury, there are many questions that still need to be answered about the incident.
Eubanks has been released to family so that he can receive medical care for his "state of mind," the news release stated.