A Cuyahoga County man died, after shooting himself in the woods off I-271 in Medina County last night after struggling with a sheriff's officer.

The Medina County Sheriff's Department says officers were called to the area of I-271 and Ridge Road after a report of a hitchhiker in the area.

A Medina County Sheriff's officer went to see whether 27-year-old Andrew Baumgartner needed assistance...and was going to move him to a safer location when he patted Baumgartner down.

The officer felt a weapon during the pat down, and Baumgartner got away from him after a short struggle.

Baumgartner then fled to a home on Ridge Road and asked for help, and the residents called 9-1-1.

A number of officers heard a gunshot ring out, and discovered Baumgartner had killed himself.

He'd apparently walked about 4 miles from where his vehicle was found at a rest stop on I-271 near the Medina County line.

The Medina County sheriff's office says Baumgartner was wanted for questioning in recent thefts in Cuyahoga County.

They say a backpack on him contained several items including loaded gun, jewelry and watches.