The Allen County Sheriff's Office announced the following on November 8, 2022:
On October 29, 2022 at approximately 6:09 p.m. Allen County Deputies were dispatched to the Cairo Grain Elevator. A male, later identified as Derek D. Tussing (DOB 3-10-1991) of Delphos, had tried to pull a female out of her car.
When he was not successful at that, he got into a nearby vehicle with the keys in the ignition. Then, at a high rate of speed, Mr. Tussing drove the vehicle directly into the grain elevator entrance, striking grain elevator employee Richard Stemen. Mr. Stemen was life flighted to a Columbus hospital for life-threatening injuries.
Mr. Tussing did try to flee from deputies but was ultimately taken into custody and then transported to receive medical care for injuries sustained and intoxication. At this time drug use is believed to be a factor and the assault appears to have been purposeful.
Tussing is currently in custody at the Allen County Jail on charges of aggravated vehicular assault, theft of a motor vehicle and an unrelated warrant. This investigation is ongoing.
