Clay Twp. police shooting: Suspect made comments about 'death by cop', records show

CLAY TWP. — The Brookville man officers said shot at a Clay Twp. police officer and the township’s administration building posted messages on social media and made comments alluding to death by police, according to a search warrant filed in Montgomery County court.

Aaron Mitchell, 40, is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a preliminary charge of felonious assault.  Formal charges have not been approved yet in the case, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office.

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Mitchell was shot multiple times by officers following a pursuit from the area of the Clay Twp. administration building, which ended on North Diamond Mill Road Friday.

“Upon further investigation a Facebook post was located on Aaron Mitchell’s Facebook account stating ‘welp my mind says I’m going to break a bunch of laws and then chased by the cops lol’,” according to documents filed in court.  “Mitchell also has made comments that the best way to go is by cop and that if he wanted to die he could do death by cop.”

An incident report shows police believe Mitchell was suspected of using alcohol.

Deputies served a search warrant Friday afternoon at Mitchell’s house on South Clay Street in Brookville, which is also owned by his live in girlfriend, court records showed.

Latest on man who shot firearm at Clay Twp. administration building Latest on man who shot firearm at Clay Twp. administration building

Three police officers, including two from Clay Twp. and one from Brookville, were placed on paid leave for their involvement in the police shooting, officials have confirmed.

Maj. Tom Simon from the Brookville Police is the officer on leave from that department after the department said he fired his service weapon at the end of the pursuit.  The two Clay Twp. officers were Sgt. James Hawkins and Officer Jim Corcoran.

Police recovered an AR-style rifle from Mitchell’s 1986 Pontiac Fiero, which was towed from the chase scene, court records read.

Police have seized at least 20 items during their investigation that will serve as evidence in the case, including bullets and shell casings, the warrant read.

Officers also recovered a black semi-automatic rifle in the front bedroom of Mitchell’s home.