The Springfield Police Officers’ Association (SPOA) has set up a fund (https://www.spoarelieffund.com/officer-priebe-fundraising) to support Springfield Police Officer Mark Priebe and his family during his recovery from injuries received during a June 9 incident at Springfield Police Headquarters. Officer Priebe served as the Neighborhood Watch coordinator for several Springfield neighborhoods.
On June 9 at approximately 9:30 a.m. officers were notified of a white male, later identified as 28-year-old Jon Tyler Franklin Routh at the front entrance of Springfield Police Headquarters (321 E. Chestnut Expressway) causing a disturbance and urinating on the front door. Officers contacted him and asked him to leave.
Routh then got into a white SUV, drove away, then circled back through the parking lot, heading toward the front entrance of Police Headquarters.
He accelerated directly toward Officer Priebe, who was standing in front of the building. The officer attempted to get out of the way, but it appears the driver intentionally struck the officer who became trapped under the vehicle. The vehicle continued forward with the officer still trapped, striking a concrete bollard.
A second officer yelled at the driver to stop and get out of the vehicle and when he refused and continued to drive forward, the officer fired shots striking the suspect and stopping the vehicle.
Officer Priebe and the suspect were sent to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. Routh was booked into the Greene County Jail later that day and has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.