Pr. George's Police Officer Killed

[Sgt Jon]

MD)
Pr. George's Police Officer Killed by Suspected Thieves

By Aaron C. Davis and Hohmann
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, June 27, 2008; 3:42 PM

A Prince George's County police officer was killed today when he was struck by a vehicle driven by suspected car thieves in Laurel, three law enforcement officials said.

Police Chief Melvin C. High was en route to Laurel Regional Hospital and a news conference was expected this afternoon. The officer's wife was also at the hospital, having been flown in by helicopter from their home in Carroll County.

A massive search was underway at an apartment complex several blocks from where the incident occurred, in the 14700 block of Laurel-Bowie Road. Residents of the complex, Laurel Square Apartments, said police were conducting a door-to-door search.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062702001_pf.html

[mec26]

these animals have no regard for human life my thoughts and prayers go out to the officers family and the prince georges police department....and to the officer thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice

[navy03]

I knew a few PG officers when I lived up there years ago... great group of people! My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and the PD.

[Former SA 13]

PG County (MD) is a great organization and I am proud for having worked jointly with them on the USSS Identity Theft Fraud Task Force! They are a stand-up group of gents/ladies!!! Rest in peace brother!!!:mad:

[BugsVA]

This sucks. Rest in peace. I was driving around today in the car when I heard this on the radio. I was hoping that he make it. :(

[Sgt Jon]

Word out is that they caught the Mopes. Not much more than that though.

Reminds me of when Officer Fletis at the Pentagon Police was run down by the POS who stole a car and went the wrong way into the Pentagon.

Truly a sad day, again.

[uptownfed]

Suspected Of Killing PG Officer Dies In Jail

POSTED: 12:10 pm EDT June 29, 2008
UPDATED: 12:22 pm EDT June 29, 2008
LAUREL, Md. -- Police say a 19-year-old man charged Saturday with running down and killing a Prince George's County police officer has died in his jail cell.

Police said Ronnie Lionel White, of Laurel, was the driver of a pickup truck that struck 39-year-old Cpl. Richard Findley on Friday.

Rescuers were called to the Prince George's County jail about 11 a.m. Sunday for a report of an unconscious male. Rescuers attempted to revive him in the ambulance.

Police confirm that White was pronounced dead at the hospital.

[BugsVA]

According to news reports, the death was ruled a homicide.

[Sgt Jon]

Suspect in Slaying of Pr. George's Police Officer Dies in Custody

By Aaron C. Davis, Jerry Markon and James Hohmann
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, June 29, 2008; 5:06 PM

A 19-year-old man charged in the slaying of a Prince George's County police officer died today in custody, jail officials said.

Ronnie L. White was found sitting on the floor of his maximum security cell unresponsive and not breathing at 10:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead just over an hour later at Prince George's County Hospital after efforts to revive him failed, said Col. Gregory O. Harris, deputy director of operations for the county's corrections department

White had been charged Saturday with first-degree murder in the death Friday of Cpl. Richard S. Findley. Two men in a pickup that police believe was stolen and driven by White hit Findley in a parking lot near the 14700 block of Laurel-Bowie Road in Laurel.
Harris said there were no visible signs of trauma on White. He had been seen sitting on his bunk, awake and alert 15 minutes earlier during a routine check, he said. White also had undergone a medical evaluation about 34 hours earlier when he was booked in to the Upper Marlboro jail.

Vernon Herron, director of public safety for the county, said he ordered Prince George's County police to begin an immediate investigation into the death. Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey also has begun reviewing the death.

Harris would not rule out suicide as the cause of death, but said it would be inappropriate for him to attempt to make a determination before an autopsy is performed. He said Harris was in a maximum security cell where he was not allowed to have cloth or rope-like materials, and during his medical evaluation he "showed no signs of suicide or depression at all."

Harris also said he knew of no complaints by White about his physical treatment by police or corrections staff.

White was charged with first-degree murder in Findley's slaying. Findley and other officers from an elite squad had been attempting to box in the suspects when White, who police say was the driver, rammed Findley's cruiser, according to the charges. Findley got out of his cruiser and White hit him, dragging him on the front of the truck, police said. Findley, 39, suffered massive head trauma, and he died a short time later at Laurel Regional Hospital.

White was being held in a single cell at the Prince Georges's Department of Corrections, police said. An internal police email said the county fire department received a call from that facility at 10:38 a.m. requesting assistance for a 20-year-old male who was not breathing. Sources said the email got White's age wrong.

White was then taken to Prince George's Hospital, and at 11:43 the hospital notified police that the suspect had been pronounced dead and that "he was the suspect from the death of Ofc Findley.''

Three other suspects are under investigation in Findley's death. Police said today that no additional charges had been filed.

Court records show that in 2006, White was charged with first-degree assault and armed robbery; the case was dropped. Last year, he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and, in a separate case, to drug possession. On Nov. 28, he was sentenced to more than six months in prison. It was unclear when he was released.

It was unclear whether an attorney had been appointed for White before his death, and family members could not be immediately located today.