Sidney officer shot last week released from hospital; Suspect appears in court on child porn charges

SIDNEY — Injured Sidney police Sgt. Tim Kennedy has been released from Miami Valley Hospital, nearly a week after he was shot while trying to arrest a suspect.

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Kennedy was released from Miami Valley Hospital Tuesday, six days after he was shot twice on Lynn Street while trying to arrest a man with an outstanding warrant for his arrest, Sidney Police Chief William Balling confirmed to News Center 7 Wednesday.

Brandon Steele, 34, the man accused of firing the shots that hit Kennedy, appeared in Shelby County court Wednesday in a separate case on child porn charges.

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Steele entered a plea of not guilty during the arraignment hearing and was released on his own recognizance, court records show. However, Steele remains booked in the Shelby County Jail on a $1 million bond on the charges of felonious assault he’s facing in the shooting investigation.

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Steele was indicted on five counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor in June 2020. A warrant had been issued for his arrest, and police were attempting to locate and take him into custody Oct. 6, investigators previously told News Center 7.

As officers were trying to arrest Steele, he ran from them. As police gave chase, an officer first tried to use a Taser on him and Steele returned by firing a gun at the officer, Balling previously told News Center 7. No one was hit by gunfire in this first instance, as Steele ran into a wooded area.

Later, Steele came out of the wooded area and fired shots that hit Kennedy twice, once in the abdomen and once in the lower leg, Balling said. Steele was able to get away and eluded capture for over 16 hours. He was eventually taken into custody after a SWAT standoff Oct. 7.

Steele will make his next court appearance Oct. 18 for a pretrial hearing on the charges connected to the shooting, according to court records.

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