BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP -- A man shot by a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy responding to a domestic violence call early Wednesday has had frequent run-ins with the law.
James D. Payne, 26, was wanted on another domestic violence charge filed against him earlier this month by the woman with whom he had been living. His past offenses include drug trafficking, aggravated drug trafficking, robbery, drug abuse, receiving stolen property, assault and carrying a concealed weapon. He has been sentenced to prison several times, according to Hamilton County court records.
Mr. Payne, 26, was shot three times in the arms when he tried to run down Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Tom Kelly at Hilltop Apartments here, authorities said.
The incident occurred as Mr. Payne tried to flee from the residence of his girlfriend, sheriff's officials said.
Deputy Kelly, identified by a law enforcement source as the officer who fired the shots, is an eight-year member of the sheriff's patrol. Sheriff's officials said Deputy Kelly could not comment. He fired four rounds at the car as he sprinted toward parked cars to avoid the oncoming vehicle, sheriff's officials said.
Deputy Kelly radioed the Hamilton County Communications Center: "I have shots fired. He tried to run me down. (He's) in a red (Chevrolet) Beretta going down View Point (Drive) toward Kennedy (Avenue)."
Other deputies and a Fairfax police officer stopped the car near the Howard Johnson on Highland Avenue near Ridge Road and summoned a life squad.
Police were called at 1:25 a.m. to the View Point Drive apartment of Mr. Payne's girlfriend, Carleen Ragan, in the subsidized housing project on a hilltop northwest of Kennedy Avenue here.
The Hamilton County Communication Center received a call from a woman who identified herself only as another tenant in the apartment building. She reported an argument at the Ragan apartment.
Steve Barnett, Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman, said the deputy fired two shots through the car's windshield, and another hit a car door. Investigators are trying to determine where the fourth slug went. Mr. Payne was shot twice in one arm, once in the other. He was taken to University Hospital, where he remained in serious condition late Wednesday.
Mr. Barnett said Ms. Ragan had been "slapped around" but not seriously hurt.
Mr. Barnett said an official inquiry, routine when officers use firearms, is being conducted.
Mr. Barnett said Mr. Payne was wanted on an outstanding domestic violence warrant filed July 10 by Ms. Ragan. Mr. Payne, who told deputies he lives at the View Point Drive apartment, was charged Wednesday with felonious assault on a police officer and a second count of domestic violence, Mr. Barnett said.
Mr. Payne last year was charged with driving under the influence and drug abuse. The year before that, he was charged with assault.
John Hopkins contributed to this report.
