Suspect in officer killing shot dead [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
By Jon Schmitz, Moriah Balingit and Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
State police said
Mr. Myers had been charged in a warrant with homicide, attempted homicide and two counts of aggravated assault after the shootings of two officers hours earlier, according to online court records.
The shooting was reported shortly after
The second shot officer,
Officer Dryer stops a dark-colored minivan
At a press conference this afternoon and in documents, authorities laid out what they believe happened:
Officer Dryer pulled over the dark-colored minivan Mr. Myers drove at about
Mr. Myers did not have valid insurance nor valid registration, so Officer Dryer told him he planned to tow the minivan, authorities said.
Then he asked Mr. Myers if he had weapons in the car. Mr. Myers said yes. Officer Dryer asked him to get out of the car.
When he opened the door, Mr. Myers fired once, hitting Officer Dryer near the groin.
Officer Caldwell took cover. Mr. Myers shot at him at least once, hitting him in a hand.
Mr. Myers walked to where Officer Dryer lay on the highway and stood over him, raised his gun and fired once into the side of the officer's head.
Officer Caldwell fired at Mr. Myers, though it is unclear whether Officer Dryer did.
Officer Caldwell made an emergency shots-fired radio broadcast at
A driver from Rusty's Towing arrived to pick up the minivan as the officers had asked before Mr. Myers left.
"I got to get out of here," Mr. Myers told the driver.
The driver tried to get him to stay, even leaning in the driver's window. Mr. Myers sped off as the driver broke the rear driver's-side window trying to stop him.
Officer Dryer, a part-time officer since
"We are all deeply saddened by these events,"
The men were among the
It has been a tumultuous few months for the
In October, its chief,
Suspect tracked quickly
Police spent much of the morning at the home at Fifth and Shell, where where they believed the gunman had barricaded himself about midnight.
A Rostraver fire official said police fired tear gas into the house sometime overnight but there were no signs of movement inside.
The
People who live near the house, which had nearly all of its windows shot out, reported hearing several gunshots. Minutes later, the officers walked out casually as a
"He was not very talkative,"
Mr. Myers worked as a part-time officer for the
Ms. Humenik said she was unsure when Mr. Myers retired from the department, but his name came up in borough council meeting minutes from that time, she said.
An officer and a veterinarian
In 2000, Officer Dryer, who went by "Dave" or "David," was a 34-year-old veterinarian and wildlife conservation officer when he spoke with the
"I've always wanted to be a police officer," Officer Dryer said then.
He had been a volunteer fireman for 14 years and an emergency medical technician for six years.
"I already have a lot of the training I need, and, frankly, I got tired of the sirens and flashing lights and being in the limelight," he said in the 2000 story. "I thought I'd like to try doing something one-on-one with my dog," he said.
Officer Dryer used
"I want to be taken seriously, and I've discovered that in order to do that, you need credentials and the proper training," he said.
Officer Dryer found motivation in his own home.
"My son Ben, who is 5, was very sick when he was born. In fact, a couple of times I thought I was going to lose him," he said. "I think this is why I want to search for missing people, particularly children. I feel so fortunate to have Ben. Even when he was sick, at least I knew where he was. I can't imagine having a child disappear without a trace. Perhaps I can help to return a lost or missing child back home."
Gov.
The governor's order will remain in effect until after Officer Dryer's burial Friday.
Officer Dryer was the oldest of three siblings and is survived by his parents and 17-year-old son, relatives said.
Recalling a life of service
Officer Dryer had worked as a deputy wildlife conservation officer for the state's game commission since 1996, serving out of the south
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family,"
He also had worked as a part-time officer for several other
The department on
"People will never know how much
Officer Dryer was a man of many interests. In addition to working as a vet, police officer, game warden and volunteer firefighter, he owned a farm on the
"What's ironic about this is the reason Dave got into law enforcement is the reason Dave is dead today,"
Visitation for Officer Dryer is from
The funeral is at
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