Muskingum County Sheriff's Department, Ohio
End of Watch Tuesday, July 12, 1994
Add to My HeroesMichael J. Lutz
Lieutenant Michael Lutz was shot and killed with his own gun while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect at 4:30 am.
Lieutenant Lutz was dispatched to a Maysville Pike gas station near Fink's Used Cars on a breaking and entering call. When Lieutenant Lutz approached the suspect, the man knocked him down, took his service weapon, and fired four shots. Lieutenant Lutz was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he died less than an hour later.
The suspect, a parolee, was convicted of murder and was sentenced to death, but the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the sentence. In 2004 the suspect was re-sentenced to 60 years to life. His first parole hearing is in 2050.
Lieutenant Lutz had served with the Muskingum County Sheriff's Department for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and son. His son was a deputy with the department at the time of his father's death and was elected sheriff of the same county, Muskingum, in 2008.
Bio
- Age 48
- Tour 16 years
- Badge 12
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Death sentence overturned
Most Recent Reflection
View all 37 ReflectionsNEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Lieutenant Michael J. Lutz of the Muskingum County Sheriff's Department, Ohio and the additional 74 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.
Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
July 12, 2023
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