Pennsylvania policeman takes another officer hostage, shoots self
In an odd series of events leaving authorities searching for answers, a Pennsylvania police officer took another officer hostage, drove him to a nearby town in a police car, and ultimately shot himself in the head.
Carbon County Deputy Sheriff David Midas, 33, died after a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 8:20 p.m. Friday, according to state police.
Midas went to the Lansford police station Friday night and took ammunition and an unmarked police car and drove it to the home of another off-duty officer and took him hostage, according to the Associated Press.
Midas then drove about 10 miles east to the town of Jim Thorpe where a struggle began, according to the Associated Press.
Jim Dugan, co-owner of a general store in Jim Thorpe, on Saturday described the commotion he heard the night before. Dugan was in the store on Broadway when he heard what he thought was a firecracker.
“I wanted to see what the kids were doing outside my store and,” he said, “I saw a body.”
Dugan told the Los Angeles Times that he saw Midas lying in the street about a foot from the sidewalk, as well as another man kneeling over him. Both men were in plain clothes, according to Dugan. He also noticed a car parked across the street with its door open.
Dugan turned around to call the police, but patrol cars flooded scene before he could make the call. Dugan said about 20 police cars crowded Broadway and blocked off the street for about three hours.
State police said Saturday that they are investigating the incident, including Midas’ mental state. Police have not released the name of the second officer.
Dugan said state police stopped by his store Saturday to ask for videotape, but Dugan didn’t have any. Lexi Ruch, a hostess at Broadway Bar & Grille, which is a few doors away down from Dugan’s, also said a state police officer came to look at video footage at her bar.
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