Trooper killed by fleeing suspect

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September 10, 2012

Trooper killed by fleeing suspect

The Daily Southerner Calvin Adkins The Daily Southerner Mon Sep 10, 2012, 02:59 PM EDT

TARBORO — A North Carolina State Trooper with ties to Edgecombe County was killed in the line of duty Saturday during a three-county, high-speed chase that began in Wake County.

Trooper Bobby G. Demuth, a 1988 graduate of Tarboro High School and former Edgecombe County deputy, was struck and killed while he was attempting to position "stop sticks" to help apprehend 40-year-old Christopher McCoy Rodgers, of Williamston, near the Spring Hope exit on U.S. 64, according to 1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon, highway patrol public information officer.

Demuth, who was stationed in Rocky Mount, was attempting to place the "stop sticks" when he was struck by a 1995 Nissan 200SX driven by Rodgers.

According to reports, the Raleigh Police Department began chasing Rodgers around 7:30 Saturday morning, some seven hours after he reportedly forced his way into a residence and barricaded a female and her 21-month old child into a room. A short time after he left the residence, the female freed herself and went to a friend's house where she reported the incident to authorities

As Raleigh police investigated the incident, they discovered Rodgers had stolen the woman's ATM card and found that he had used the card after fleeing the residence. Police then obtained warrants charging him with burglary, common law robbery, two counts of kidnapping, assault on a female, assault on a child and obtaining property by false pretense. As a result, an all-points bulletin was issued for Rodgers.

Rodgers was first spotted near New Hope Road and Rogers Lane and the officers on the scene called for back up. Authorities also attempted to stop Rodgers near the intersection of U.S. 64 and U.S. 264 near Wendell and, when he refused, the pursuit continued into Franklin County, according to a press release issued by the Raleigh Police Department.

By that time several other agencies, including the state police, had joined the pursuit.

According to reports, Rodgers left U.S. 64 at exit 231, turned and headed east in the westbound lane on the highway, Gordon said. Shortly afterward, Rodgers reportedly went off the road and struck Demuth. Gordon said the 12-year-veteran trooper was killed instantly.

Less than a mile away, Rodgers lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. He left the car and fled on foot, but was captured in the woods nearby.

"We have about 2,300 employees," Gordon said. "You really don't know how close we are until you lose a coworker. Right now, our main focus is for the support of the Demuth family."

Gordon said charges in connection with Demuth's death would be filed.

Demuth was the first trooper to die in the line of duty since June 17, 2008 when David Blanton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on I-40 near Canton. Blanton's killer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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