William Beach Jr.
**NOT UNARMED – SUBJECT WAS ARMED WITH A HANDGUN**
Date: 1/31/2023 Location: Jackson, OH FACTORS (1,2,5,12,14,19)
Name: William E. Beach Jr.
Criminal History/Involved: Yes, Beach had prior arrests for felony breaking and entering in November 2020 and for felony assault on a police officer in August 2022. / Yes, pursuant to a trespassing complaint involving Beach, he then refused to comply with the search warrant and barricaded himself inside the residence.
Mental Illness: None stated but Beach’s actions appear to be suicide by cop.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, as part of his August 2022 arrest, Beach agreed to “undergo drug and alcohol assessment at the Phoenix Center and follow all recommendations of treatment.” / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/31
Officer(s) involved: Jackson County sheriff’s deputies.
What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 10:26 a.m. on January 31, 2023, Jackson County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call of a man trespassing. William Beach Jr. was that man and he fled the scene before the deputies arrived. The deputies were able to trace Beach to a nearby residence and observed him barricaded inside holding a long hatchet. “A probation officer said he saw Beach with what appeared to be a handgun as well.” After trying unsuccessfully for two hours to have Beach exit the residence, during which time he confirmed he was armed with a gun, the deputies got a search warrant and breached the door.
Actions taken by subject towards police: As the deputies entered the residence, Beach raised his handgun and “charged at them.”
Reactions by the police: Fearing Beach was going to fire his gun, one of the deputies opened fire and shot Beach one time causing him to drop his gun and stumble back. Since Beach remained combative and still appeared to be armed with an object in his other hand, one of the deputies deployed his Taser. The Taser was ineffective and after a brief physical struggle, the deputies were able to subdue Beach and discovered he had been shot. The deputies performed first aid until Beach could be transported to a hospital where he later died from his wound.
Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: Ohio State Bureau of Investigations is investigating the incident.
What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Beach could still be alive today if he: was not trespassing and prompted people to call 911; remained at the scene and did not flee from the deputies; exited the residence instead of barricading himself; did not possess a firearm and threaten the deputies with it.
Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, the deputy was faced with an armed perpetrator posing a deadly threat and used justified deadly force to stop that threat.
