CLEVELAND, Ohio – A special deputy fired his weapon at a group of youths Monday afternoon in East Cleveland during an altercation that began with a toppled portable restroom.

Officials said the officer, who is commissioned through the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, was working an off-duty security job for a road crew in the 1600 block of East 133rd Street at about 1:30 p.m.

As the officer was inside the portable device, youths tipped the device over, said Jennifer Ciaccia, a county spokeswoman.

When the officer got out, he faced several youths. Ciaccia said the deputy reported that one of them was pulling a firearm from his waistband. The officer then fired a shot, and the group fled, the county official said.

Later, a youth, linked to the incident, was taken by car to Universit

See Full Page