A regional fugitive task force shot and wounded a man wanted on multiple counts of child rape Tuesday morning after he tried to escape arresting officers by jumping off an apartment balcony and breaking into a neighbor’s home.
Timothy Kukla, 33, was tracked by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) to an apartment building near the 24400 block of Lake Shore Boulevard in Euclid, Ohio. Kukla was actively wanted by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority on multiple counts of rape involving a male and a female under the age of 13.
The arrest attempt quickly turned chaotic when Kukla fled from officers by climbing over an exterior balcony. He dropped down a floor and broke into another occupied apartment below.
Officers pursued him through the building and eventually discovered him hiding inside an apartment closet.
While task force members were attempting to take him into custody, an officer fired one round, striking Kukla. Officers immediately rendered medical aid at the scene. Paramedics transported Kukla to the University Hospital main campus, where he was treated for a non-fatal gunshot wound. Authorities state he is expected to make a full recovery. No law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The incident is now drawing investigations from two separate agencies. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the independent probe into the officer-involved shooting, while the Euclid Police Department is investigating and pursuing charges against Kukla for the residential break-in.
The NOVFTF Cleveland Division is a collaborative effort featuring federal, state, and local agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Cleveland Police Department, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, and police departments from Euclid, Parma, Westlake, and several other area municipalities.
Authorities ask anyone with information regarding wanted fugitives to contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or submit a tip online. Cash rewards are available, and tipsters can choose to remain anonymous.
READ: U.S. Marshals Massachusetts Dragnet Snags 110 Violent Fugitives Off The Streets
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