Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
An Ohio man has been charged with assaulting a federal officer following an incident in Cleveland on October 15. According to a criminal complaint, Larry Leon Dwight Wiley, 55, barricaded himself inside his apartment for several hours when members of the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve an arrest warrant related to a previous federal law violation.
During the attempt to execute the warrant, Wiley allegedly fired at the officers as they entered his unit. A deputy U.S. Marshal was struck in the arm by a .380 caliber round and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Wiley appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Dowdell Armstrong on October 16 and was ordered held in custody while proceedings continue, after a motion from United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated: “Law enforcement officers risk everything to protect us, and this case is a stark reminder of the dangers they face in the line of duty. I am grateful that our deputy U.S. Marshal will make a full recovery and I will ensure that this heinous crime is prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any attack on law enforcement is an attack on our society itself.”
U.S. Attorney Toepfer added: “An assault on federal law enforcement is an assault against society. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who harms a federal law enforcement officer who is pursuing the mission of protecting the public,” and expressed appreciation for local agencies’ rapid response and first aid efforts at the scene.
FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen commented: “The swift and decisive actions by the United States Marshals Service, Cleveland Division of Police, ATF, and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office to prevent additional harm to the people in the community underscores the collaboration and partnership among our local, state, and federal agencies. We are united in our resolve to take the most dangerous criminals and repeat offenders off the streets and keep our neighborhoods safe places to live and work. The FBI will conduct a thorough investigation into the assault of a federal officer and ensure justice is served.”
Wiley faces charges of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. Sentencing would be determined by factors including prior criminal history, role in offense, and other case-specific details.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including FBI Cleveland Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Cleveland Division of Police, with support from Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Scott Zarzycki, and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.
A criminal complaint represents only allegations; Wiley remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
