The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Carthage, Jasper County

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October 10, 2008

Judge orders former deputy sheriff to stand trial in police-threat case

From staff reports

news@joplinglobe.com

A former lieutenant with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department will stand trial on a pair of felony charges stemming from a shooting incident with Joplin police earlier this year.

Milton E. Ganz, 38, was bound over for trial this week in Jasper County Circuit Court after waiving a preliminary hearing. Ganz is charged with second-degree assault on a law-enforcement officer and unlawful use of a weapon.

The charges stem from a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation of an officer-involved shooting the night of Aug. 9 at 2603 S. Monroe Ave.

Officers Ben Cooper and Freddie Alaniz, of the Joplin Police Department, both fired at Ganz multiple times with their service weapons when he allegedly pointed a gun at Cooper. Ganz was shot once in the abdomen. A single live round subsequently was found in the .357-caliber revolver Ganz had in his possession, according to police.

Cooper and Alaniz were responding to a late-night 911 call from Ganz’s wife, Onya, reporting that her husband was threatening to kill himself with a gun. The confrontation with the officers took place in the back yard at the home.

A probable-cause affidavit filed with the case alleges that Ganz ran from the officers to the back yard, and then put the gun to his head. The officers ordered him “multiple times” to put the gun down, the affidavit states. When he pointed it at Cooper instead, they opened fire, the affidavit states.

The state patrol indicated to Joplin police that its investigation found the officers were justified in opening fire. The probable-cause affidavit signed by Sgt. Roger Renken of the patrol sought a single felony count against Ganz of assault on a law-enforcement officer. The prosecutor’s office filed the unlawful-use charge as well.

Ganz left the Sheriff’s Department in May for undisclosed reasons, although he previously told a Globe reporter he planned to resume his education. Sheriff Archie Dunn has declined to discuss the reasons for the departure of one his department’s higher ranking officers.



Next up

An arraignment in the case of Milton Ganz has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday before Circuit Judge David Mouton.

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