DID YOU KNOW: In Ohio Zebras are not considered exotic animals, and no permits are needed to own them.
Primary Narrative By Michael Oberley:
On March 12, 2023 at 1736 hours I was dispatched to 6993 Darby Rd. Circleville, Ohio 43113, reference a zebra attack, dismembering the arm of the owner. Upon arrival I was detoured by Rueben Pahl at the entrance of the listed address side gate. He was pointing in the direction of the victim Ronald Clifton. As I drove back onto the property I observed Ronald laying on the ground, as I was attempting to position my cruiser to block Ronald from the zebras, a large male zebra charged my driver side door and was acting very hostile. I was able to use my air horn and sirens to scare the zebra enough so I could exit my vehicle. I made contact with Ronald and he appeared to have a hemorrhage on his right arm just below the elbow. I then administered a tourniquet high on the injured arm just below the right shoulder. Myself and Deputy Welch, unit #16, then helped Ronald to his feet and escorted him to a staged ambulance. While I was trying to identify those on scene and collect information from Ronald, I observed the male zebra coming in closer to the Clifton family and Emergency Medical Staff (EMS). I was notified while collecting information by the family if the male zebra came any closer that we were authorized by the family to dispatch it. Moments later I heard Sergeant Eitel, unit #22 yell at the zebra several times and a shot ring out. I turned around to observe the situation and noticed the male zebra laying on the ground. Photographs were taken of the scene and uploaded to this report, and Ronald was transported to Grant Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio due to injuries sustained from the male zebra.
Supporting Narrative By Nathan Welch:
On March 12, 2023 at 1734 hours, I was dispatched to location on a complaint a Zebra attacking the homeowner. Upon arrival, myself, Deputy Oberley and Sgt. Eitel observed a male who was later identified as Ronald Clifton laying on the ground near a pile of sticks in distress. Deputy Oberley then noticed Ronald had his right arm covered with his sleeve and according to the dispatch logs, Ronald's arm was bit off by the Zebra. Deputy Oberley then applied an tourniquet to Ronald's arm and we then escorted Ronald to the ambulance. Moments later, myself and Sgt. Eitel observed the Zebra which attacked Ronald come closer to our location where family of Ronald and EMS personnel were staged. The Zebra then started walking closer to myself and Sgt. Eitel than Sgt. Eitel attempted to tell the Zebra to get back and tried to scare it away. The Zebra than continued to walk closer to Sgt. Eitel and Sgt. Eitel than lowered his shotgun to the high ready position and shot a slug round at the Zebra's head killing the Zebra.
Supporting Narrative By Stacey Eitel:
On 03-12-2023 at 1736 hrs. I was dispatched to location. on a reported animal bite. Dispatch advised of having a male caller reporting that his arm had been bitten off by a Zebra. Rueben Paul advised all deputies that this Zebra is aggressive and to put the Zebra down if needed. This unit was standing guard over the deputies, ems personnel, other bystanders and family members that arrived on the scene to check on Ronald Clifton.
This unit then watched this male Zebra go toward Ronald Paul and Ronald had chased it away with a large stick. This unit then heard other family members say don't turn your back on the Zebra for that's when it will attack you and then again say that if we needed to put the Zebra down to do so.
This unit then noticed that this Zebra started walking aggressively straight toward this deputy and this unit had yelled at the Zebra three times trying to scare it away and the Zebra didn't slow down and kept coming at me. This unit knew that there were a large amount of other people behind me that I needed to protect from this aggressive Zebra. This unit knew that this unit wasn't going to allow this animal to get close enough to bite me for just hearing that it had just bitten someone's arm off. This unit then fired one 12 Ga. 1 OZ Slug into the forehead of the Zebra when the Zebra had gotten just several feet away from this unit. This one round fired killed the Zebra instantly upon being shot.
Sheriff Matthew Hafey arrived on the scene just after this unit had shot this Zebra. This unit informed Sheriff Matthew Hafey that this unit had no choice to put down this aggressive Zebra for the safety of the deputies, ems units and other people on the scene.
The Harrison Twp. EMS transported Ronald Clifton to Grant Hospital for his injuries he received during this Zebra attack. All other units and persons then cleared the scene with no further incident.
This unit was aware that this male Zebra was aggressive due to to be protective of about five or six female zebras that were in the field at this location upon our arrival.
