Michael Decker

HOPEDALE — Authorities in Harrison County spent the afternoon searching for a man who allegedly took a shot at a sheriff’s deputy on U.S. Route 250 before leading police on a high-speed chase to the Hopedale area, where he ditched his car and fled on foot, firing “multiple shots” at officers.

So far, there’s been no indication why the pursuit was started.

Harrison County Sheriff Mark Touville identified the person of interest as Michael Decker, 53, no address listed, and said he is “believed to be armed and dangerous with violent history.”

The sheriff’s department listed Decker as being 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, with hazel eyes and bald. He does not have a beard, though he is seen with one in a photo released by the sheriff’s department

Lt. Brice A. Nihiser, OSHP strategic communications unit public information commander, said troopers and sheriff’s deputies were searching for Decker “in connection to an officer-involved shooting in Franklin Township on Monday.”

“Steubenville Post troopers responded to an officer-involved shooting call on U.S. Route 250 near Eslick Road shortly after 11:35 a.m.,” he said in a statement released around 5:30 p.m. Monday. “Upon arrival, troopers located the subject’s vehicle nearby and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued.”

Troopers deployed road spikes, a tire deflation device, in an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle and said the driver “exited the vehicle near Old Hopedale Road. At that time, the subject fired multiple shots at troopers and ran into the nearby woods.”

U.S. Route 22 had been shut down in the Hopedale area in both directions, an OSHP dispatcher said earlier.

The search was continuing, Nihiser said, and said authorities are asking motorists to avoid the area.

The sheriff’s department said the driver believed to have been “involved in a shootout” was last seen near Hopedale “where he fled into the woods toward Giacobbi Road” and advised residents he is considered to be armed and dangerous.