A state highway patrol trooper assigned to the Wapakoneta Post fired one round at an oncoming suspect vehicle. 

Sgt. John Westerfield was on a routine traffic stop on State Route 501 between Buckland Holden Road and Ritchie Road, shortly before 2:30 Sunday morning, when the driver of a pickup truck struck the back of the parked cruiser, pushing it into the rear of a car that the trooper had stopped, according to a press release from the State Highway Patrol. 

The trooper identified the driver of the truck as John N. Williams, 27, of Wapakoneta.  According to Lt. Scott Carrico, Commander of the Wapakoneta Post, Williams drove into a nearby bean field and then turned back toward Route 501 in the direction of Sgt. Westerfield, who had exited his patrol car and ordered the suspect to stop. 

Reportedly, Williams failed to obey the order and Westerfield then fired the single shot.  According to Carrico, Williams then stopped his truck and attempted to flee on foot, but was taken into custody by Westerfield.  Williams was arrested on traffic charges to include operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.  Additional charges are pending a review by the Auglaize County Prosecutor. 

Williams refused treatment at the scene for injuries suffered in the crash and is incarcerated in the Auglaize County Jail in Wapakoneta.   

The driver of the original car that the trooper had stopped was not hurt.  Westerfield was treated later at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys and released.