The man accused of shooting two Willoughby Hills police officers at a car dealership in September reached a plea agreement with prosecutors on Monday.
Timothy Scott Schmidt appeared in court facing several charges, including attempted murder, to change his plea in connection with the shooting at the Classic BMW Dealership on SOM Center Road.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault, one count of resisting arrest, and several firearm-related charges.
"The evidence was clear but to hear it from him gave closure to the officers that he admitted to these act," said Willoughby Hills Police Chief Chris Collins.
Officers Cory Planisek, 26, and Craig Anderson, 52, were shot by Schmidt, who became "irate" at the dealership. Employees at the dealership said he was yelling at them and appeared to be "under the influence" of something at the time of the shooting.
Both officers are back at work. "They have to live with this over and over in their mind as they get back to work," added Collins.
Schmidt was also shot by officers. He was released from the hospital in November after sustaining several gunshot wounds.
At the time of the shooting, Schmidt had two outside warrants and an extensive criminal history.
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The prosecutor asked the judge for the maximum sentence to be given to Schmidt, who could face up to 45 years in prison.
Timothy Schmidt signs plea deal. @WEWS pic.twitter.com/x5FxOeUhwB
— Tracy Carloss (@TracyCarloss) March 19, 2018
Police searched Schmidt's home after the shooting. There is another pending case centering around what investigators found. Lake County Narcotics Agents were among the departments called in to help search. They found a sophisticated marijuana grow operation as well as LSD, Psilocybin, heroin, fentanyl, prescription opioids. "We usually don't see that kind of variety of drugs that he had," said Lake County Narcotics Agency Director David Frisone.
He will be sentenced for shooting the Willoughby Hills police officers on April 26.
