Thread: Maricopa County Sheriff's deputy killed in shootout

Maricopa County Sheriff's deputy killed in shootout

by Laurie Merrill - Jan. 8, 2012 10:35 AM
The Republic | azcentral.com

A Maricopa County Sheriff's deputy was slain early Sunday after a burgary suspect opened fire at him at an Anthem medical plaza, sheriff's deputies said.

The burglary suspect, whose name was not released, was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy after he opened fire, according to Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Deputy William Coleman, 50, a 20-year veteran, the first deputy killed since 1995, was one of three who responded just after 4 a.m. Sunday to a report of a burglary in progress on Anthem Way just east of I-17, Arpaio said.

"Unfortunately, one of our deputies was killed in the line of today," Arpaio said. "It is extremely sad, for everyone. He was an excellent officer."

Offer condolences

A minivan was parked outside near one of the medical buildings at the plaza when the three Sheriff's deputies arrived. The MCSO patrols Anthem, a master planned community roughly 20 miles north of central Phoenix.

"The suspect came out and started shooting at our deputies," said Arpaio, speaking from John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital. One of the deputies, Arpaio said, "returned fire and killed the suspect."

The suspect carried a semiautomatic rifle, Arpaio said. Coleman wore a vest, but such vests are no match for such weaponry, he said.

"Not when the (bad) guys carry semiautomatic weapons," Arpaio said.

Deputies said they could not yet comment on how many times and where Coleman was shot.

Nor do they know, yet, what the suspect had stolen, if anything, and whether he has a criminal record. It's difficult, at best, to know what was in the suspect's mind, authorities said.

"Number 1, there's a war on against police," said Arpaio. "We live in a violent world."

Coleman leaves behind several children, including a 4 and a 7-year-old and a few who are older and have left the nest, Arpaio said.

Arpaio said deputies took a pit bull that was sitting in the suspect's van.

"We are pretty sure this is just an isolated incident," Arpaio said.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/p...#ixzz1itKiXIT8

Prayers, Sadness, and Heartbreak on this Sunday for the Family and Friends of Deputy William Coleman.

Man Who Shot Deputy a Marine, Author

Updated: Monday, 09 Jan 2012, 10:10 PM MST
Published : Monday, 09 Jan 2012, 9:20 PM MST

ANTHEM - Two crime scenes, more than 80 miles apart. One in Sedona, the other in Anthem.

Four people dead, one of them a suspected shooter. Now, investigators are trying to figure out if Drew Ryan Maras is responsible for both deadly scenes.

Investigators say Maras the man who shot and killed Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy William Coleman during a burglary call in Anthem.

Other deputies fired and killed Maras.

But is he also the man who killed Jim Johnson and Carol Raynsford, friends from New Hampshire visiting Sedona over the weekend.

One key piece of evidence has investigators in two counties thinking there may be a link. That piece of evidence is the weapon Drew Ryan Maras used to shoot Deputy Coleman. It’s similar to what was used to kill the two in Sedona.

Adding to the mystery is the emerging details of Maras's background, neighbors describe him as your average guy. A Marine, 30 years old, with a consuming interest in the unexplained -- an author who wrote about the apocalypse, Armageddon, and judgment day.

“I was going to go buy one and have him sign it before he left, then he left like a day early I never saw him,” says neighbor Alex Piper.

The last time piper saw his neighbor was right after the New Year, and was shocked to learn that the guy next door had been shot and killed, accused of shooting down an MCSO deputy moments before he died.

“He used to come over a lot when I got off of work. Kind of blows my mind to be honest.”

Drew Ryan Maras promoted his books on his Facebook page -- literature about UFOs, the Mayan calendar and the end of days as we know it.

“We don’t like to see this we have to keep doing our job and we’ll get through this,” says Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Deputy William Coleman, 50, was shot Sunday morning at a north Phoenix medical building while answering a burglary call.

MCSO has not confirmed this photo, but neighbors say the name matches the face. But the behavior however doesn't.

“He seemed like a cool guy just a normal guy, don’t expect that from him,” says neighbor John Demarr.

MCSO is comparing shell casings from Sunday’s shooting to the one that left two people dead in Sedona Friday. Investigators think there is a possible link, and his neighbors tell us Maras made frequent trips to Sedona.

Statement from the Coleman family

The Coleman family, although devastated by the loss of their best friend and father, want to express their appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends and people they do not even know. The love felt by the family from the community is certainly helping them cope as they try to work through the many emotions of this senseless crime. Deputy Coleman, best known as a tough guy on the outside, but teddy bear on the inside, loved serving his community, but even more, loved coming home from the job to his four children and to the loving arms of his best friend and wife, Beth. Bill was looking forward to going back to day shift next week so he could spend more time with his family. He was also proud of completing 20 years of service and possibly retiring. Deputy Coleman's wife is focusing on helping their children - two of the four under the age of 10-deal with this tremendous loss. Beth, with all her heart, said first and foremost that although she asks for privacy, wanted to be sure to thank everyone, for their outpouring of love and support. . Bill sacrificed everything to protect us and our community. Bill would always make you laugh and would always help anyone out. Bill has touched many lives, he will be missed but not forgotten.
And the family also wanted to share a note from their seven year-olds teacher that did a nice job summarizing Bill's positive influence on children:
"Deputy Bill-as the kids know him here, played a role for two years visiting our classrooms-coming in to speak about stranger danger, gun safety, "hug-a-tree", etc.. Many of the kids were impressed and inspired to go into law enforcement because of his visits, but even more importantly, the messages that he taught them could someday save them from very dangerous situations that they never would have known. He was able to touch the lives of over 120 kids in those 2 visits. The time that was spent with these children is something that the community would never know, but the appreciation from all 120 kids will last a lifetime. Whether he inspired them, gave them a greater appreciation for law enforcement officers, or even possibly saved a life from future harm… he made a difference.
I know that you know all of this already, but I felt that I needed to share with you, our personal appreciation-here at school for Deputy Bill's lessons and for his service to our communities.
Connor has always described his dad as a hero and he is absolutely right."

An account has been set up for Deputy Coleman at Desert Schools FCU. It's the Deputy Coleman Memorial Fund, Acct # 6000123586,

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news...arine-1-9-2012