MASSILLON, Ohio - The man who died in a shootout in which authorities say he killed a police officer had no apparent reason to flee a traffic stop, the State Highway Patrol said.

        Donald W. Matthews, 61, of Canton, had no criminal record, traffic violations or outstanding warrants before Friday's chase and gunfire, Patrol Maj. James Walker said Saturday.

        Massillon Patrolman Eric Taylor, 31, died in the shootout despite wearing a city-required bulletproof vest, Police Chief Mark Weldon said. The married father of two had been on the force four years.

        Officer Taylor died of a single gunshot, and the bullet matched Mr. Matthews' imported gun, said Rick Walters, an investigator with the Stark County coroner's office. The bullet entered from behind and traveled to his chest.

        Mr. Matthews died of several gunshot wounds, but his autopsy was not complete, Maj. Walters said.

        “I remember Eric when I first interviewed him, and he was kind of young,” Chief Weldon said, his voice cracking. “I remember telling him to come back in a couple of years. And he did that, and I have never regretted it - until now.

        “He cared deeply about the job, about the community, about the people.”

        Maj. Walker, commander of patrol field operations statewide, gave this account of the chase:

        Trooper Joseph Hershey first stopped Mr. Matthews about 8:30 p.m. Friday on Ohio 21 in Wayne County. The trooper had clocked the Ford sedan Mr. Matthews was driving at 72 mph in a 60 mph zone, he said. Officer Hershey also was prepared to ticket Mr. Matthews for not wearing a seat belt.

        Mr. Matthews refused to roll down his driver's-side window more than an inch and showed the trooper his driver's license through the glass. Then he drove off.

        Officer Hershey followed Mr. Matthews about 12 miles south into Massillon and pulled him over again. As Officer Hershey approached the car, Mr. Matthews said something about his constitutional rights, and the trooper saw him turn and grab a gun. Officer Hershey backed away, and the driver took off again.

        Massillon police answered a call for backup and joined the chase, which ended a few minutes later in a construction site parking lot along the highway near a residential neighborhood.

        Mr. Matthews got out of the car with the handgun and fired first.

        He was armed with a Czechoslovakian semiautomatic handgun, Maj. Walker said, but the patrol has not determined if the imported weapon was licensed, registered or legal.

        The patrol is investigating whether Mr. Matthews was a member of a militia group, patrol spokesman Lt. Gary Lewis said Saturday.

Burglars move to suburbs
Missing girl's picture found with porn ring suspect
Erpenbeck cash buyers sue
More schools adopt program for improving test scores
PULFER: Millions stolen; Why isn't case closed?
BRONSON: Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?'
Springsteen fans dismiss festival concerns
Hit-skip suspect followed, attacked
Kids, parents hang out with cops
Local Digest
Officer, suspect take head-first falls
Boys sought for apartment fire
Congrats
Good News: Students learn value of teamwork
Officer, suspect killed in shootout
Suspect eludes police
Warren County plans 3 veteran memorials
Seafood Festival winds up today
2 killed when car hits trees
Kids get free school supplies
Asbestos delays school
Historic mansion faces wrecking ball
Ky. Guardsmen in crash ID'd
Sex abuse allegations unsealed