The Mifflin Township police shooting that left two officers injured is reigniting debate over how harsh the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office has been on criminal defendants.
Daveonte Dixon, 21, allegedly shot the two unidentified police officers on Wednesday after he fled the vehicle he was a passenger in during a traffic stop. Dixon is still at large and one of the officers he shot is still in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds and two surgeries.
Dixon previously pleaded guilty last year in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm under disability and possessing a dangerous ordinance, a glock switch. Dixon was not allowed to possess a firearm because of other past offenses.
A July 2023 indictment provided by the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office said in June 2023 Dixon broke into a building with the intent to commit a crime while carrying a firearm. Officials say Dixon displayed or brandished the weapon, but didn't actually fire it.
During press conferences about the case, Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9 President Brian Steel has criticized the prosecutor's office's handling of Dixon's previous felony cases.
Franklin County prosecutors and Dixon's defense team agreed in the 2023 case to a sentence of community control and fines rather than a prison sentence. That incident wasn't Dixon's first offense with a firearm. He pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon in 2022, only three months before it became legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit in Ohio.
"I don't know what is more disturbing. That Daveonte Dixon tried to kill two police officers, or that Franklin County courts allowed this violent felon to be released back onto our streets last year," Steel said in a statement after the shooting.
The judge in the 2023 case was Judge Kim Brown.
Steel then said at a Wednesday press conference he doesn't want to leave any stone unturned when looking into why Dixon wasn't given a more harsh sentence last year.
The plea agreement that led to that sentence was done under former Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack. The prosecutor's office is now run by Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor, who was elected in 2024. Favor answered questions over email from WOSU about Steel's criticisms and what Dixon's case says about the office's practices.
Favor said she wants to wish the Mifflin Township police officers and the two Columbus police officers who were hurt in a crash while driving to the scene a full, speedy recovery. She said she is grateful for their service.
Favor said Dixon will be dealt with according to the law.
"I want to be clear. Accountability is crucial and Mr. Dixon will be prosecuted accordingly for the actions he’s accused of," Favor said.
In reaction to Steel's statements, Favor said:
"We all bring different experiences to the table, and that shapes how we see things," Favor said.
Favor said when the county evaluates whether the recommended sentence was too lenient, it's important to recognize that a prosecutor has the tool of discretion—an essential part of the justice system. She said this discretion allows the prosecutor to weigh a wide range of factors beyond just the severity of the offense.
These include the defendant’s age, background, environment, and prior criminal history.
"In this case, (Dixon) was young, from an impoverished area, and had very few prior offenses. These mitigating factors could justifiably lead a prosecutor to consider that a more rehabilitative approach—rather than a harsh punitive one—might better serve both the individual and the community," Favor said. "Prosecutors can and should assess whether a second chance could break the cycle of recidivism and help the individual get on the right track."
Favor said drawing a fine line between locking people up and rehabilitation is a tailored response that can help break cycles of violence and recidivism. Recidivism is the term used for when a criminal reoffends after going through the justice system for a previous crime.
"I believe it’s important to avoid a blanket approach when it comes to sentencing individuals who commit crimes using a firearm. Simply mandating prison time for every case may address the symptom—punishing the act of gun violence—but it often fails to tackle the underlying causes that lead someone down that path in the first place," Favor said.
Steel told WOSU he doesn't understand Favor's response. He argues that if someone is a violent, repeat offender, courts and prosecutors should keep that person incarcerated.
"We cannot kick you back on the street to try to kill my officers," Steel said.
Steel focused his criticism on Tyack, who was in charge of the office at the time. He said that under Tyack crime "skyrocketed" and attributed that rise, in part, to Tyack's approach to cases like this.
Violent crime, specifically murder and felonious assaults, did increase in Columbus after Tyack was elected in 2020. But it also did so in most other large U.S. cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, Columbus started to see a drop in these violent crimes. Murder and felonious assault numbers have also dropped this year so far.
"I don't think there's a single citizen in this city that'll tell you what we're doing now is working," Steel said. "And (Dixon) is a perfect example. If we can rehabilitate you, let's do it. A person like Mr. Dixon cannot be rehabilitated. He's too far gone."
Steel said he agrees that prosecutors can have discretion, but Tyack's approach was a failure. Steel said Columbus and Franklin County owe more to victims and future victims to keep offenders off the streets to prevent future crime.
"I believe we owe more to the citizens not to become victims than we do the violent offenders. And I think that's just where there's a little bit of disconnect," Steel said.
Steel said he is glad Favor recognizes the seriousness of Dixon's offense and wants to work with her and her office. He said the two plan to meet soon to discuss this issue and the Dixon case.
Favor's office told WOSU in a second email that she also wants to make more reforms to rehabilitative practices available to prosecutors and the court to reduce recidivism.
"As times change, so too must our systems. Our office is actively engaged with multiple stakeholders to review and strengthen existing programs, practices, and processes. We are committed to ensuring that rehabilitation is not just a concept, but a functioning, effective part of the justice system that truly helps individuals avoid reoffending," the Favor's office said.
The FBI, FOP and Central Ohio Crimestoppers are offering a total $40,000 reward for information leading to Dixon's arrest.
