A man accused of taking a New Philadelphia police officer’s gun and firing a shot that narrowly missed a detective during a January confrontation has been sentenced to up to 22 1/2 years in prison.
Dyllan Riter, 28, was sentenced to 17 to 22 1/2 years in prison by Judge Michael Ernest after pleading guilty in July to amended felony charges, including attempted murder, felonious assault and grand theft involving a firearm.
New Philadelphia Police Chief Tessa Pohovey told Jordan Miller News on Wednesday that the department was pleased to see Riter receive the maximum sentence available on the charges.
“We’re very happy to see that he did get the maximum sentence for what he was charged with,” Pohovey said.
The case stems from a Jan. 14 encounter with New Philadelphia police in the 1800 block of East High Avenue. Officers had responded to a report of a suspicious person behind an apartment complex.
During the encounter, authorities said Riter struggled with officers, gained control of an officer’s handgun and fired a shot that narrowly missed a detective’s head.
Riter was also wanted at the time in connection with two alleged robberies at Dollar General stores in Stark County.
Pohovey said the circumstances surrounding the shooting made the maximum sentence appropriate.
“Somebody that has the ability to steal an officer’s gun and fire it towards him, and then just to be that reckless in that regard,” Pohovey said. “I obviously think he needs some help, and I think that the max sentence was very well warranted in this situation.”
The January incident also had a lasting effect on the officers involved and the department as a whole, Pohovey said.
“It’s been difficult for everybody. I’m sure more so for him,” Pohovey said of the officer involved.
Pohovey declined to discuss personal details about the officer but said the department made assistance available following the incident. She said an encounter of that magnitude affects not only the officers directly involved but also others within a close-knit department.
The shooting also served as a reminder of how quickly routine police work can become dangerous, she said.
“There’s a lot of days that it can kind of become routine,” Pohovey said, adding that incidents such as the January shooting bring “the reality to the forefront” and remind officers to remain alert because of the dangers associated with the job.
When asked whether Riter’s lengthy prison sentence could serve as a deterrent to others who might attack law enforcement officers, Pohovey said she hopes it does but questioned how much impact a sentence alone can have.
“I would hope that message would be common sense that you don’t harm other people and you don’t try to take anyone’s life,” Pohovey said.
She also expressed concern about what she described as the unfair portrayal of law enforcement nationally in recent years and said similar attacks on officers have continued to occur across the country.
Riter had previously served approximately 4 1/2 years in prison on weapons, drug and burglary charges in Stark County and was on probation following his 2024 release when the January encounter occurred.
