A man suspected of attempting to rape a woman is dead after a standoff with Akron Police SWAT early Sunday morning. 

According to the report, at 4 a.m. Sunday, APD was called to 2070 Thurmont Rd. where a woman was being held at gunpoint and that the man who was holding her was trying to rape her. The victim managed to text a cousin who called 911. 

When police arrived, the suspect ran out of the house and fired shots at officers who then returned fire. The suspect then retreated back into the home. SWAT was called to the scene and tried to communicate with the suspect who was not repsonding. After about 4 hours of trying to contact the suspect, SWAT entered the home and found the suspect dead inside. 

The Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine whether or not the suspect died of gunshots from the police or a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His name has not yet been released. 

Two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, per department protocol, while the investigation into the shooting is ongoing. 

At about 10:16 p.m Sunday, two Uniontown Police Officers responded to a domestic violence call at 10599 Lela Avenue NW. When the officers arrived, the suspect, 28-year-old Ryan Probst opened fire on them. Both officers returned fire, killing the suspect, but not before Sergeant David White with UPD was hit four times. 

(Ryan Probst, 28 - Photo Credit: Stark County Sheriff's Office)

After the shooting, the officers called for back-up and the Stark County Sheriff's office, along with other Uniontown Police officers arrived on the scene. Sgt. White was transported to an Akron-area hospital. He had surgery at about 5:30 a.m. Monday and has since been listed in stable condition. 

During a press conference Monday morning, Stark County Sheriff George Maier noted that this was not Probst's first encounter with the law. He'd been arrested for violent offenses in the past and had a long RAP sheet. Sheriff Maier added that this wasn't the first domestic incident that they were called for at the home on Lela. 

Both Sgt. Smith and the other officer involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues. 

Sgt. Smith is a 25-year veteran of law enforcement and had been with the Uniontown Police Department since 2002. 

Beginning Friday, July 7th, the Akron Zoo is the first zoo in Ohio, and only the second in the country, to be certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity out of Birmingham, Alabama. 

Sensory inclusive means the zoo is now accessible and accommodating to those with sensory needs, including autism. Upon entry, the zoo is now offering sensory bags that include noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and weighted blankets. The zoo now features five quiet zones for guests who need a break from the everyday commotion that is common at the zoo. There is also a guest comfort station, which is a private room for guests only, giving them a place to relax. 

"One of our goals is to make the zoo accessible to everyone," Akron Zoo President and CEO Doug Piekarz said in a statement. "By partnering with the very effective team at KultureCity we know that the zoo is more welcoming to all families and we are now equipped to offer a better experience for families with sensory needs." 

(Akron Zoo President and CEO Doug Piekarz, Akron Zoo Marketing and Group Sales Manager Elena Bell, Amy Belles, Carson Belles, Jeff Belles)

This isn't the first venture KultureCity has taken up in Northeast Ohio. With the help of Amy and Jeff Belles of Akron, KultureCity worked with Dan Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavaliers to make Quicken Loans Arena sensory inclusive. The Belles family, including 12-year-old Carson, who was diagnosed with autism at 2-years-old, worked with employees and helped train them, both at the Q and at the Akron Zoo, to be more sensory inclusive. 

Training for all Akron Zoo employees lasted about 6 or 7 months, and now they're equipped to help make those with sensory needs more comfortable when they walk through the zoo. 

See more at AkronZoo.org. 

Known for her dazzling play on the field for the Akron Racers, star outfielder A.J. Andrews is featured in this year's edition of ESPN the Magazine's "Body Issue" that is due to hit the newsstands Friday, July 7th. 

Andrews, coming off of a Gold Glove award in her first season with the Racers, is a Florida-native who played her college softball at LSU. She is the first ever female to win a Gold Glove award and she took home the 2016 Golden Spikes award for stealing a league-leading 15 bases. 

This year's edition of the "Body Issue" features former Ohio State Buckeye Ezekiel Elliot on the cover. Elliot currenly plays running back for the Dallas Cowboys. 

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love appeared in the issue two years ago. 

Jackson Township police are investigating the death of an 18-month-old boy, who was found unresponsive in the Motel 6 on Sunset Strip Avenue Northwest early Thursday morning.

The baby was transported to Mercy Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. 

The mother of the boy 26-year-old Stephanie M. Buchanan and Jasmin P. Nance, 25, were both arrested on separate Obstruction of Justice charges. Police say both Buchanan and Nance lied to them during their investigation, but it does not say that the charges are currently related to the child's death. 

An autopsy is scheduled with the Stark County Coroner's Office to determine the cause of death and the Stark County Prosecutor is handling the investigation. 

Jackson Township Police Chief, Mark Brink, that both Buchanan and Nance could face further charges, depending on autopsy results. 

The boy's three older sisters, ages 4, 6, and 9, and one brother, age 6, have all been placed with Stark County Protective Services.

Investigators say that drugs and alcohol played a factor in a deadly two-car crash in Plain Township early Wednesday morning. 

According to the report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Michael D. Elsass, 26, of North Canton, drove through a red light at a high rate of speed around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday. He struck a Chrysler Town and Country, driven by Lawrence E. Dobbins. After the collision, Elsass's Chevy Malibu ran off the side of Cleveland Avenue and into a a group of trees along the roadway. 

When Highway Patrol and EMS arrived on the scene, Elsass was pronounced dead on the scene. Neith Dobbins nor his passenger, Lynda Dobbins, were injured in the accident. 

Highway Patrol investigators from the Canton Post believe that drugs and alcohol played a factor in the deadly crash. The investigation is ongoing. 

An Akron man has been acquitted of knowing about and assisting in the shooting of a woman in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park during the Fourth of July holiday in 2016. 

Raymond Moore III, 27, of Akron was acquitted by a federal jury in Ohio on Monday. He had been accused by the FBI, after an investigation, of driving Dezay Ely to the park all the while knowing that Ely had planned on shooting the woman that they were with. Ely did shoot the victim three times in the park and left her for dead along Akron-Peninsula Road back on the morning of July 3rd, 2016. She was found by hikers later that day along a horse trail. She had been missing for a few days prior to the shooting and had no identification, was unable to speak, and was left blinded by the shooting. 

Earlier this year, Ely pleaded guilty to attempted murder charges, firing a gun during a crime of violence, and being a felon in posession of ammunition. He is due for sentencing in federal court on August 24th.  

The Stark County Sheriff is investigating two separate robberies which may be connected. 

The first, according to the Sheriff's report, happened Friday, June 30th just before 6 p.m. at the PNC Bank at 2800 Whipple Avenue NW in Plain Township. A white male entered the bank wearing a hooded sweatshirt, dark glasses, a white T-shirt over his face, and white gloves.

Witnesses told investigators that the suspect never showed or indicated that he had a weapon. 

The second robbery happened Monday, July 3rd, just after 6 p.m. at the Dairy Queen 4110 Hills and Dales Rd. NW., also in Plain Township. 

Deputies responded to the Dairy Queen where witnesses say a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts with dark sunglasses and a white shirt over his face and head demanded the cash drawer. The report indicates the suspect in this robbery did say that he had a weapon, but never showed one. He left with the drawer in a maroon four-door SUV-type vehicle, possibly Kia Rio. 

In both robberies, the suspect is described as a white male, in his late 20's or early 30's, between 5' 6" and 5' 10", with a slender build. Anyone with information or who recognizes the suspect is asked to call the Stark County Sheriff's Office at 330-430-3800 or the Anonymous Tip Line at 330-451-3937. 

The Stark County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal shooting that happened Monday evening in Canton Township. 

Deputies responded to a 911 call just after 5:30 Monday night, to a home on 49th St. SW. Upon arrival they found a man with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center where shortly afterwords he was pronounced dead. 

The victim was later identified as Michael W. Christensen, 30. It's unclear if Christensen was a resident of the home where he was found. 

The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who may have information on the shooting to call their office at 330-430-3800. 

The Stark County Dog Warden had an overcrowding issue last week, and there were discussions at the warden's office of the unfortunate last resort: euthanization. 

Thankfully, Stark County Dog Warden Jon Barber says that last weekend they had a good amount of adoptions and even a few owners reclaiming their lost pups, which doesn't happen too often. 

With that said, Barber says, "That could change at any moment. It just depends on the number of dogs coming in versus the number of dogs going out." With the Fourth of July holiday weekend upon us, Barber adds that they typically see an influx in dogs being brought to the Warden's kennel. "Fourth of July, more so, dogs get scared with fireworks being shot off and things like that, and they'll run off and get turned around; so we do see more dogs around the Fourth of July." Barber recommends keeping dogs inside during fireworks, but, if you decide to bring your dog outside while fireworks are going on, keep them on a leash. 

If you happen to lose your dog in the Stark County area, the Warden's office is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed for the Fourth of July on Tuesday, and then back to regular hours on Wednesday. 

See more at StarkDogs.org.