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Hammer beating scene like violent horror movie; officer 'heroic' in deadly shooting

Jamie Belty, 23, continues to recover at home after being attacked with a hammer by her boyfriend on April 25, 2010.

Contributed photo/Contributed photo Jamie Belty, 23, continues to recover at home after being attacked with a hammer by her boyfriend on April 25, 2010.

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Joshua Berkheimer, 25, was shot and killed by police on April 25, 2010, when he ignored an officer's command to stop beating Jamie Belty with a hammer.

Photo from Legacy.com Joshua Berkheimer, 25, was shot and killed by police on April 25, 2010, when he ignored an officer's command to stop beating Jamie Belty with a hammer.

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Joshua Berkheimer, 25, was shot and killed by police at 2095 Princeton Road, Apt. 5, on April 25, 2010. Berkheimer was shot when he would not stop striking Jamie Belty, 23, in the head with a hammer, according to reports.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Joshua Berkheimer, 25, was shot and killed by police at 2095 Princeton Road, Apt. 5, on April 25, 2010. Berkheimer was shot when he would not stop striking Jamie Belty, 23, in the head with a hammer, according to reports.

Police report finding bat with nails in it, hacksaw in residence where beating occurred.

By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 10:18 AM Thursday, June 10, 2010

HAMILTON — A Hamilton police officer’s use of deadly force to stop a local man from beating his girlfriend with a hammer was “entirely reasonable” and “legally justified,” according to the Butler County prosecutor.

In a five-page investigative report obtained by the JournalNews on Wednesday, June 9, Prosecutor Robin Piper called Officer Casey Johnson’s actions “heroic,” adding he likely saved 23-year-old Jamie Belty’s life.

Johnson shot and killed Joshua Berkheimer, 25, of Hamilton, on April 25, after the man refused to stop beating Belty with a hammer during a domestic dispute.

“It is always a serious matter when a police officer has to use force against a citizen in the performance of his official duties,” Piper wrote. “Officer Casey Johnson encountered a domestic-related homicide in progress, and in a split-second he had to make an incredibly intense and difficult decision.”

“Fortunately for Ms. Belty, Officer Johnson correctly assessed the situation and responded in an entirely reasonable and legally justified manner. ”

In addition to exonerating Johnson, Piper’s report gave insights about what led to the brutal beating and about Berkheimer, who police and others portray as obsessed with violence, torture and sex.

Belty had been involved in a relationship with Berkheimer for a few months prior to their fight on April 25.

According to Piper’s assessment, Belty’s flirtatious behavior with another man that night is likely what sent Berkheimer into a fit of rage.

“It is hard to fathom any disagreement that Ms. Belty was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm,” Piper wrote. “Berkheimer increased the danger of death to Ms. Belty so severely that her eventual survival is still hard to believe.”

Scene of hammer beating like violent horror movies said to fascinate suspect

The scene was like a horror movie Joshua Berkheimer might have directed: claw hammer, hacksaw, nail-laced bat, iron wrench, and a half-dead woman covered in blood on the living room floor.

That was what Hamilton police said they found when they opened the door to Berkheimer’s Princeton Square apartment about 4 a.m. April 25.

Jamie Belty, 23, was Berkheimer’s subject that evening. But this was no movie. The blows 25-year-old Berkheimer rained upon the unconscious Belty were relentless, police and other law enforcement officials have said, and have left her fighting for her life for the better part of the past two months.

Belty will recover, eventually. Berkheimer, however, is dead, the recipient of a single gunshot to the chest by Hamilton police officer Casey Johnson, who was labeled a hero for his quick actions, according to a report released Wednesday, June 9, by the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office.

Beating an act of jealousy?

Prosecutor Robin Piper’s independent investigation also details aspects of the beating not released by police, including what led Berkheimer to act out a deadly rage, and a look into what officials describe as the local man’s violent mentality.

Belty had spent the evening of April 24 and early morning hours of April 25 with friends, including one man, Ron Tinkhan, who told police he and the young woman were “flirting, dancing (and) kissing.” It was information that soon made it back to Berkheimer, who had been dating Belty for at least several months.

Tinkhan sent text messages to Belty, and she responded twice. The next phone call Tinkhan received was from Belty’s phone — but it was Berkheimer on the other end.

He said “that he hit her with a hammer and ‘do you hear this,’ ” Tinkhan told police. “I heard a faint noise from her in the background. I would describe it as a low moaning sound.”

Then the line went dead.

According to the report, “it appears Berkheimer was attempting to torment Tinkhan by letting him know over the phone he was torturing and murdering Ms. Belty.”

The entire incident lasted less than 15 minutes .

Upon entering the apartment, Johnson twice ordered Berkheimer to drop the hammer, but the man eyed the officer instead and struck Belty at least three more times, according to the report. It was more than enough reason Johnson needed to squeeze the trigger, the county prosecutor found.

The fatal bullet literally cut Berkheimer’s right lung in half, according to authorities.

Piper wrote of Johnson: “His training and instincts resulted in the professional response we would want to see of any reasonably prudent officer in such a crisis when considering all of the facts and circumstances that instantly revealed themselves as they did.”

The findings of the prosecutor’s report mirrors the findings of a Hamilton police internal investigation, which also called Johnson’s use of force justified and heroic.