DAYTON — A man accused of shooting a Dayton officer appeared for an arraignment hearing in a Montgomery County courtroom Tuesday, just days after he was charged with multiple felony charges.
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Antwyane Lowe, 39, of Dayton was indicted last week on two counts of felonious assault on a peace officer and single counts of assault on a police officer, carrying a concealed weapon, having weapon while under disability and possession of cocaine.
The court entered a plea of not guilty on Lowe’s behalf during the video arraignment. His bond, which was initially set at $1 million, was lowered to $250,000 with electronic monitoring.
Antwyane’s mother, Virginia Lowe, spoke with News Center 7′s Mike Campbell after the hearing and said Antwayne has struggled for years with mental health issues.
“He’s been mentally disturbed for over 11 years. I’ve been trying to get him help. Unfortunately you can see what his health has done for him and I’m sorry for what happened to the officer, I truly am. But my son has (done) wrong, I’ve seen the camera (footage),” Virginia said.
The court cut the hearing short after Antwyane started talking during the hearing, saying multiple things including admitting to shooting the officer. That was when the judge intervened and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
“I don’t see how they can’t see that something’s wrong with him. I think he needs some help. He needs mental help,” Virginia said.
Virginia said Antwayne has struggled with mental health issues since returning to Ohio, after previously being a firefighter in California.
“He clearly was not hisself (sic) when he came back to me in Ohio from California. I struggled with him for a long time trying to get him help, but I couldn’t get the help because he was so much in and out of jail,” Virginia said.
>> $1 million bond set for man accused of shooting Dayton officer in head
Lowe was shot multiple times after investigators said he fired a shot that hit Dayton Officer Thadeu Holloway in the head.
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The Sept. 21 altercation started as a report of fraud at the Dollar General location on South Gettysburg Avenue around 6:40 p.m. after a counterfeit bill was passed at the business, police previously told News Center 7. The incident continued to Ingram Street where Holloway and Lowe had an altercation, captured on Holloway’s body-worn camera.
Holloway used his taser on Lowe, which brought Lowe to the ground. Lowe retrieved a handgun and fired one shot, which struck Holloway on the side of his head, hitting his temporal artery, Interim Dayton Police Chief Matt Carper said previously.
Holloway fired five shots at Lowe and hit him in the neck and shoulders.
Holloway was released from the hospital just two days after the shooting.
We’ll continue to update this story as new details become available.