Tennessee Man Who Shot Charleston Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Sevierville, Tennessee man pled guilty to a federal firearm charge today, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Bryan Lee Ogle, II, 33, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep the rest of us safe from dangerous individuals like Ogle,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We are fortunate that when Ogle shot the Charleston Police officer the bullet was deflected by the officer’s body camera. Assaults on police officers in my district will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case is a great example of state and federal prosecutors working together to hold violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Ogle admitted that he was driving a vehicle near Montgomery on February 8, 2018, when officers with the Montgomery Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop on it. In response, the defendant pulled over momentarily but then began to flee at a high rate of speed. The pursuit reached speeds of approximately 110 mph in a residential and business area with a 35 mph speed limit. Eventually, the defendant lost control of the vehicle and struck a hillside on the side of the roadway. As officers attempted to open the driver’s side door and remove the defendant, he put the vehicle in reverse and attempted to back away. The vehicle then struck a utility pole and was immobilized. An officer then stood in front of the vehicle and gave the defendant commands to stop the vehicle. In response, the defendant attempted to rev the engine and move forward to strike the officer. After realizing that the vehicle would not move, the defendant exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. He was caught by officers and a physical struggle ensued, with the defendant striking and biting the involved officers. The defendant also attempted to grab and remove one of the officer’s firearms during the struggle. 

During the struggle, the defendant indicated that he possessed a firearm and attempted to reach for it. Once the defendant was secured in handcuffs, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol was located in a holster on the defendant’s belt. Ogle admitted that he possessed the firearm knowing that he had previously been convicted of several felony offenses in Tennessee.

After Ogle’s arrest in Montgomery, he was taken to Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) General Division for medical treatment. While in custody at CAMC, Ogle attempted to escape from police, with the pursuit ending in a stairwell. When police officers attempted to place Ogle in custody, he knocked a Montgomery Police officer off of the stairs causing injuries to the officer. While the officer was down, Ogle gained control of his firearm and shot a Charleston Police officer. The bullet was deflected by the officer’s body worn camera. Ogle pled guilty in Kanawha County Circuit Court to attempted murder, escape, assault in the commission of a felony and battery and was sentenced to the maximum sentence of six to 30 years in state prison. 

Ogle faces up to life in prison on the federal charge when sentenced on October 22, 2020.

The Montgomery Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-00057.

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