Timmothy Schmidt
PAINESVILLE, Ohio - A Willoughby Hills man pleaded guilty Monday to shooting two police officers last year at a BMW car dealership.
Timmothy S. Schmidt now faces up to 45-and-a-half years in prison for shooting Willoughby Hills police officer Cory Planisek and Craig Anderson during a Sept. 28 confrontation at Classic BMW.
Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault on a peace officer and one count of resisting arrest on the day he was scheduled to stand trial in the case.
Lake County prosecutors agreed to drop four additional charges in exchange for his guilty plea.
The case brings closure to Planisek and Anderson, who spent several days in local hospitals after the shooting, Willoughby Hills police Chief Christopher Collins said after the hearing. Planisek and Anderson were present at the hearing but declined, through Collins, to speak to reporters.
"I think it sends a strong message out to the community, that people who want to challenge police officers during an arrest, and try to harm them or others - it carries a serious penalty," Collins said outside the courtroom.
Schmidt will remain in custody at the Lake County Jail until his April 26 sentencing hearing.
He must serve at least 22 years in prison for mandatory gun specifications attached to the charges he pleaded guilty to, Judge Eugene A. Lucci said.
Schmidt took his car to Classic BMW in Willoughby Hills to have it repaired on the day of the shooting. He became angry at the dealership, and employees called the Willoughby Hills Police Department, Lake County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Karen Kowall said.
Planisek and Anderson arrived to calm the situation and escort Schmidt out of the dealership. The officers learned Garfield Heights Municipal Court issued a warrant for Schmidt's arrest in a traffic case, and Schmidt tried to run away, Kowall said.
Schmidt said Monday that he was "heavily medicated" at the time. He did not say what medication he was taking or what condition that medication was treating.
"At the time I was heavily medicated, and I was afraid I was going to be locked up in jail without my medication," he said in court.
Planisek grabbed Schmidt, but Schmidt reached for a gun. Schmidt spun around and opened fire on the officers, Kowall said.
Schmidt shot Planisek in the abdomen and leg and Anderson in the side and leg, Kowall said. Both officers were treated at local hospitals and released days after the shooting, police said.
Anderson returned fire and shot Schmidt, Kowall said. She did not say where he was shot.
Schmidt spent nearly seven weeks in a hospital before he was discharged and taken to the Lake County Jail, police said.
Detectives raided Schmidt's house on Bishop Road near White Road in Willoughby Hills the day after the shooting. They found a box they believed to be an explosive, and a bomb squad was called in to detonate it. Detectives later determined the box was not an explosive.
Investigators did not say what they found in the home.
Schmidt is still expected to face additional charges related to that raid, Kowall and Collins said, but they declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Schmidt's criminal history includes a felony conviction for possessing LSD and misdemeanor convictions for drug possession, traffic offenses and disorderly conduct, court records show.
To comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments page.