FAST FACTS:
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
(Springfield, OH 5/21/2010) The sheriff of Clark County, Ohio says he wasn't surprised by Thursday's deadly shootouts that killed two West Memphis police officers, and wounded two other officers.
Sheriff Gene Kelly told WREG On Your Side Investigators that he deemed Jerry Kane a threat to the community back in 2004 when Kane and his son, Joe, lived in Springfield, Ohio.
Kelly was so concerned that he issued an alert to his officers six years ago telling them to approach Kane with caution.
The sheriff showed us a stack of complaints filed against Kane that Kelly believes demonstrates what he calls Kane's anti-government, anti-authority attitudes.
In one letter, Jerry Kane demanded payment from the government for what he believed were law enforcement officers having trespassed on his property.
In another letter, the sheriff says Kane asked that $100,000 be paid to him in silver as compensation for the time Kane spent doing court-ordered community service after being convicted of traffic offenses.
Because of stories like these, few people of knew of Kane in Springfield, Ohio were surprised to hear what happened in West Memphis Thursday.
The house where Jerry and Joe Kane lived in Springfield is now a vacant lot.
A bank foreclosed on the home in 2006 according to Clark County court records.
But, while the house may be gone, the memories of Kane's anti-government attitude remain.
"He had signs up talking about he hated Sheriff Kelly and all that," explained Juanita Colquitt who lives next to where the Kane's home stood.
Kelly started worrying about Kane in 2004.
It was concern, explained the sheriff that was sparked by the man's beliefs.
"He just had that explosive personality," recalled Kelly Friday. "Resentful toward authority in any shape or manner." Fearful, Kelly would have Kane searched for weapons before meeting with him.
The sheriff explained that Kane's then 9-year old son was usually at his father's side and that the boy often carried a toy gun.
During each conversation, Kane made his attitudes known said Kelly.
"The fact that he believed he was a free man and that no judge had authority over him and that he would not have to obey the laws intended for the rest of us," Kelly said.
Finally, concerned for his officer's safety, the sheriff issued an alert warning officers of a potential violent confrontation with Kane.
In a 2004 police affidavit, Kane was accused of shooting a teenager with a pellet gun.
A witness to that incident described Kane as having, "a crazed and angry look" on his face.
Prosecutors later dismissed the charge.
Add it all up, and Kelly wasn't surprised to learn Kane and his son were involved in a deadly shootout with police.
While he says there was never enough evidence to put Kane away in Springfield, the sheriff says all signs pointed toward tragedy...
"I knew back then that there was going to be a situation or an event that was going to have some kind of a bad outcome," said Kelly.
- Ohio Sheriff warned of possible "violent confrontation" with accused cop killer in 2004
- Sheriff says Jerry Kane held anti-government, anti-authority beliefs
- Sheriff says Joe Kane often heard his father talk of these beliefs
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
(Springfield, OH 5/21/2010) The sheriff of Clark County, Ohio says he wasn't surprised by Thursday's deadly shootouts that killed two West Memphis police officers, and wounded two other officers.
Sheriff Gene Kelly told WREG On Your Side Investigators that he deemed Jerry Kane a threat to the community back in 2004 when Kane and his son, Joe, lived in Springfield, Ohio.
Kelly was so concerned that he issued an alert to his officers six years ago telling them to approach Kane with caution.
The sheriff showed us a stack of complaints filed against Kane that Kelly believes demonstrates what he calls Kane's anti-government, anti-authority attitudes.
In one letter, Jerry Kane demanded payment from the government for what he believed were law enforcement officers having trespassed on his property.
In another letter, the sheriff says Kane asked that $100,000 be paid to him in silver as compensation for the time Kane spent doing court-ordered community service after being convicted of traffic offenses.
Because of stories like these, few people of knew of Kane in Springfield, Ohio were surprised to hear what happened in West Memphis Thursday.
The house where Jerry and Joe Kane lived in Springfield is now a vacant lot.
A bank foreclosed on the home in 2006 according to Clark County court records.
But, while the house may be gone, the memories of Kane's anti-government attitude remain.
"He had signs up talking about he hated Sheriff Kelly and all that," explained Juanita Colquitt who lives next to where the Kane's home stood.
Kelly started worrying about Kane in 2004.
It was concern, explained the sheriff that was sparked by the man's beliefs.
"He just had that explosive personality," recalled Kelly Friday. "Resentful toward authority in any shape or manner." Fearful, Kelly would have Kane searched for weapons before meeting with him.
The sheriff explained that Kane's then 9-year old son was usually at his father's side and that the boy often carried a toy gun.
During each conversation, Kane made his attitudes known said Kelly.
"The fact that he believed he was a free man and that no judge had authority over him and that he would not have to obey the laws intended for the rest of us," Kelly said.
Finally, concerned for his officer's safety, the sheriff issued an alert warning officers of a potential violent confrontation with Kane.
In a 2004 police affidavit, Kane was accused of shooting a teenager with a pellet gun.
A witness to that incident described Kane as having, "a crazed and angry look" on his face.
Prosecutors later dismissed the charge.
Add it all up, and Kelly wasn't surprised to learn Kane and his son were involved in a deadly shootout with police.
While he says there was never enough evidence to put Kane away in Springfield, the sheriff says all signs pointed toward tragedy...
"I knew back then that there was going to be a situation or an event that was going to have some kind of a bad outcome," said Kelly.
