Holly MatkinLima, OH – The Allen County sheriff’s deputy who was able to mortally wound a suspect after being shot in the face during a traffic stop last month has also been battling cancer.
Allen County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Deputy Izak Ackerman, 26, was out on patrol at approximately 2:30 a.m. on June 21 when he attempted to stop a vehicle on 2nd Street, the ACSO said in a press release.
The driver “immediately fled the scene,” leading the deputy on a brief pursuit that ended several blocks away, according to the ACSO.
The suspect, later identified as 43-year-old Quincy Pritchett, then bailed out of the vehicle and took off on foot, police said.
Deputy Ackerman chased the suspect down, leading to a physical struggle between them, the ACSO said.
During the struggle, both the deputy and suspect were shot.
The gunman died from his wounds, and Deputy Ackerman was shot in the face.
The wounded deputy was rushed to Lima Memorial Health System for emergency care before being transferred to a hospital in the Columbus area, according to the ACSO.
He underwent surgery and has since been released to continue his recovery at home, The Lima News reported.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will lead the investigation into the fatal officer-involved shooting at the request of Allen County Sheriff Matt Treglia.
Deputy Ackerman, a four-year veteran of the ACSO, has also been battling against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the sheriff’s office said in a series of Facebook posts last year.
One image posted to the department’s page on July 27, 2021, showed members of the department dressed in matching shirts as a show of support as the deputy underwent yet another round of chemotherapy that day.
“You got this, Deputy Ackerman! #IzaksSquad,” the caption read.
The ACSO has also held raffles and fundraisers to help the young deputy during his cancer battle.
The sheriff’s office said that Deputy Ackerman is expected to remain off-duty on medical leave until the BCI’s investigation is complete, The Lima News reported.
