Officer cleaning gun sends bullet into day care; no injuries

CLEVELAND – Children and teachers inside an Ohio day care centre were startled when a bullet fired accidentally by an off-duty officer at home next door whizzed through their classroom and lodged into a wall, authorities said Thursday.

No one was injured in the Tuesday incident in Cuyahoga Falls, an Akron suburb.

East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton identified the officer as Ian McInnes, 33, who has worked as a part-time officer in that city for about a year.

Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Jack Davis said McInnes was unloading a 9mm handgun when it accidentally fired. He said he didn’t know how many children and teachers were in the classroom at the time. McInnes immediately went to the day care centre to make sure no one was hurt, he said.

“I’m sure it was a very scary incident for the school and for him when they realized what happened,” Davis said.

Portland, Oregon-based KinderCare, which owns the day care centre, has said parents were notified about the incident.

Norton said East Cleveland hasn’t taken any action against McInnes but will be monitoring the Cuyahoga Falls police investigation. Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Russell Balthis said he asked the prosecutor in neighbouring Hudson to review whether charges are appropriate because McInnes is a volunteer reserve officer in Cuyahoga Falls.

Hudson Solicitor Sara Fagnilli declined to comment Thursday, saying she had just received the case.

A publicly listed telephone number for McInnes has been disconnected.

Davis said McInnes has been a reserve officer since 2014 and doesn’t carry a weapon when he volunteers for the police department. Reserves are assigned tasks such as directing traffic during parades and checking on the homes of people on vacation, Davis said.