Two people, including a former Pennsylvania state trooper, were shot to death yesterday at a Perrysburg Township trucking company.
This morning the victims were identified as Thomas Lazar, 58, of Pennsylvania, and Douglas Smith, 44, of Toledo, who was placing a 911 call when the shooting occured. Shots were heard on the 911 audio.
Authorities said that both men were employees of Liberty Transportation Company where the shootings took place.
The suspected gunman was arrested about three hours later at a Monroe County motel where he had fled in a semi-tractor, authorities said.
Calvin Coolidge Neyland, Jr., 43, believed to be of Findlay, was arrested shortly after 6 p.m. as he was leaving the Silver Blue Motel in Erie Township. Mr. Neyland agreed this afternoon in Monroe County Circuit Court to be extradited to Ohio to face the murder charges. Wood County authorities have seven days to pick him up from the Monroe County jail.
He was expected to be held in the Monroe County jail pending extradition.
The shooting occurred about 3:15 p.m. at Liberty Transportation, 7171 Reuthinger Rd., in a sparsely populated agricultural-industrial area in the northern part of Perrysburg Township, just north of Owens Community College.
Mr. Neyland was charged this morning in Perrysburg Municipal Court with two counts of aggravated murder after he "purposely, and with prior calculation and design" killed the two with a semi-automatic handgun, according to court documents.
Mr. Lazar, the victim from Pennsylvania, was a recently retired state trooper who was dispatched to Perrysburg Township to assist in firing Mr. Neyland, according to Perrysburg Municipal Court Judge S. Dwight Osterud.
Mr. Lazar was killed in the parking lot. The other victim, Mr. Smith, was killed in his office, the judge said.
A video arraignment in municipal court would be conducted from the jail.
"Because this is a capital case, I will disallow bond," the judge said. "At times like this I m glad we have video arraignments so we don t have to bring him here. It s safer for everyone, including the suspect."
If convicted, Mr. Neyland could face the death penalty.
Perrysburg Township police Sgt. Robb Gates said that Mr. Neyland was either a current or past employee of the trucking company.
He said he had no motive for the shootings and didn t know what type of weapon was used. Police said they were interviewing witnesses.
The victims had been working inside the building, Sergeant Gates said, but he declined to say if the shootings occurred inside or outside the trucking firm.
Yellow police tape surrounded the metal warehouse-type building and driveway, and several small evidence markers were placed outside the main entrance.
My primary concern right now is we make this a solvable case and, next, my concern is that the families are notified in a dignified way, Sergeant Gates said.
Dr. Douglas Hess, Jr., Wood County coroner, could not be reached for comment.
The suspect was seen fleeing the scene in the semi-tractor bearing the Liberty name. He was wearing a Hawaiian-style shirt, witnesses reported.
Police crews from Lake Township, Northwood, Walbridge, the Wood County Sheriff s Office, and Perrysburg Township responded to the 911 call reporting the shooting.
Reuthinger was closed at both ends while police investigated.
Spectators were kept 150 yards away from the crime scene.
Ray Fischer, Wood County prosecutor, who was at the crime scene, last night declined to comment on the case.
Erie Township police Chief William Hines said his department received a tip between 4:30 and 5 p.m. that Mr. Neyland was at the motel on the corner of Telegraph and Dean roads.
Officers drove by the nine-room motel and spotted the suspect inside. They set up a perimeter about 400 yards away and called for assistance from the Monroe County SWAT team.
We were preparing for a gunfight, Chief Hines said.
Shortly after 6, Mr. Neyland emerged wearing blue jeans and a black T-shirt and got into the semi-tractor. At least 17 law enforcement officers surrounded him and took him into custody without incident, the chief said.
A handgun was found in the truck. It was turned over to Perrysburg Township police.
Chief Hines said Mr. Neyland had been living alone in the motel for about three months. Police found nothing unusual in the room. Erie Township did not file charges.
Chuck Runzo, president of Liberty Transportation, had no immediate comment.
Liberty Transportation s corporate office is in New Alexandria, Pa., east of Pittsburgh, according to the company s Web site.
Its trucks carry appliances, tires, windows, and doors.
The company, founded by Mr. Runzo in 1978, also has operations in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and New England.
Mr. Neyland was convicted in 1988 in Toledo Municipal Court for passing bad checks in August, 1987. Judges issued bench warrants for years afterward, but he did not reappear in court records until late 1998. In June, 1999, he was sentenced to 30 days in the Lucas County jail.
Toledo Municipal Court records also indicate Mr. Neyland was convicted for a May, 1987, traffic offense and ordered to pay a $45 fine. For a July, 1991, traffic offense, he was ordered to pay $57 in fines and costs.
Staff writers Meghan Gilbert, Tom Henry, Jane Schmucker, Laren Weber, and Mark Zaborney contributed to this report. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Contact Carl Ryan at: carlryan@theblade.com or 419-874-3903.
First Published August 9, 2007, 8:36 p.m.