CLEVELAND HEIGHTS — Thirty-year-old Cleveland Heights police officer Thomas F. Patton collapsed and died while chasing a suspect Saturday night.
A spokesman with the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office said that Patton died of a “cardiac incident”.
“We lost a big piece of Cleveland Heights when Officer Patton went down,” said Cleveland Heights mayor Ed Kelley. “He’s just the kind of guy you would like to be with or loved to have as you next door neighbor.
“He certainly loved protecting the city,” Kelley said. “I mean he gave his life. He’s a hero.”
Around 8:15 p.m. Saturday, an off-duty Cleveland Heights police officer working security at the Marc’s Drugstore on Coventry Road tried to stop a man from harrassing two female employees at the store.
According to police, the suspect, Malcolm L. Bryant, 21, told the two workers, ages 17 and 20, that he wanted to take them to a party where there would be drinking and illegal drugs.
The off-duty officer told Bryant that the two women wanted to be left alone. Police said Bryant then verbally threatened the woman and spit in the officer’s face.
The officer then pursued Bryant by foot and called for more assistance.
Several Cleveland Heights police officers responded to the call, including Patton, a nine-year veteran with the department.
Patton and two officers chased Bryant on foot through back yards and wooded areas near the store.
At Glenmont and Mayfield Road, Officer Patton stopped momentarily, and rested his hands on his knees.
Officer Patton then began to run again, and collapsed.
He was taken to Huron Hospital, where a rescue squad and medical personnel were unable to revive him.
“He was engaged to be married,” said Kelley. “He was looking for a house here in Cleveland Heights to move and start his family. It’s a great loss.”
Patton is the son of state Sen. Tom Patton, of Strongsville.
Bryant was apprehended by other Cleveland Heights police officers and faces various felony charges.
Patton is the second Cleveland Heights police officer to die in the line of duty in the past three years.
In May, 2007, officer Jason West was shot and killed when he responded to a fight on Altamont Avenue. The gunman who shot West is serving a life sentence.
A SPECIAL NOTE: END OF WATCH DENOTES THAT THE OFFICER DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.