Seraphim
06-27-2004, 02:20 PM
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=26966
http://mii-adj48.thruport.com/multimedia/458/271/Berner_Large1.jpg
http://mii-adj48.thruport.com/multimedia/472/52/CamaroCropped.jpg
This is a still of Berner's Camaro just before the shooting.
http://mii-adj48.thruport.com/multimedia/472/52/SawyersCropped.jpg
Officer Sawyers was married with a small child.
Police in Sterling Heights, Michigan, say bank robber, Timothy Berner murdered one of their own officers just to steal the officer's gun
POLICE -- FIRST HE STALKED COPS, THEN HE KILLED ONE.
In the entire history of its police department, Sterling Heights, Michigan had never before had an officer murdered in the line of duty -- until Friday, June 4th, 2004.
Police are now on the hunt for the man who they say killed one of their own. Police Officer Mark Sawyers was sitting in his patrol car around 8:30 pm that Friday. Officer Sawyers was filling out an incident report on a recent car accident. He sat in the quiet parking lot of a Target store, bending over to fill out his paperwork. Cops say that's when a red Chevy Camaro pulled along the passenger side of Mark's police cruiser. Police say the driver of the Camaro, Timothy Berner, 33, fired a single shot from a shotgun into the back of Officer Sawyer's head. Cops say Berner stole Mark's handgun and fled the scene.
A surveillance camera from a nearby bank ATM recorded Berner's vehicle fleeing the scene. Interestingly enough, the ATM also recorded other images of Berner's vehicle following other cop cars. Cops say Berner had been stalking cops that afternoon, looking for the right opportunity.
Through their investigation, cops say they have uncovered Berner's criminal history. According to police in Michigan, Berner had been robbing banks - using the shotgun to intimidate customers and employees. The same shotgun they say he used to kill Officer Sawyers. According to cops, Berner told people the shotgun was too unwieldy for him - he wanted something smaller, a handgun. Berner believed, according to cops, that he could more easily walk into a bank without attracting attention. So, cops say, Berner targeted the one subject he knew would have a gun on him - a law enforcement officer. Police believe that Berner killed Officer Sawyers just so he could get his service revolver.
Now police want everyone everywhere to be on the lookout for Timothy Berner. They caution that he is armed and dangerous, now with two guns: a shotgun and a pistol. Immediately after the murder, police say that Berner went to a nearby bar and drank heavily for about three hours. They say that while he was there Berner drank his favorite drink: Jack and Coke. Cops say he also drinks Absolut and Tonic. Police say that he left, very intoxicated, with an unknown woman. Now cops want to know if she was his next victim or an accomplice. This unknown female is wanted for questioning, and they would like to know as much information about her as possible.
Cops say Berner may still be driving his 1994 red Chevy Camaro with license plate number YSR497. But, there's a good chance he's trying to ditch it. Berner is a very big guy and he likes to show off his body. Police say in the past, this 6'4" muscle man has been a body builder, and a semi-pro wrestler. Police say he was even hired to be an exotic dancer previously.
Berner was born and raised in Michigan, but he traveled the country when he served time in the US Marines. He is a Desert Storm Veteran, but was "other than honorably" discharged from the military in 1992.
Officer Sawyers joined the Sterling Heights Police Department seven months ago. Prior to joining the force he was a police officer in Detroit for three years. Officer Sawyers leaves behind a wife and eleven-month old daughter. There is a $25,000 reward for Timothy Berner's arrest, offered through the Sterling Heights Police Department.
http://mii-adj48.thruport.com/multimedia/458/271/Berner_Large1.jpg
http://mii-adj48.thruport.com/multimedia/472/52/CamaroCropped.jpg
This is a still of Berner's Camaro just before the shooting.
http://mii-adj48.thruport.com/multimedia/472/52/SawyersCropped.jpg
Officer Sawyers was married with a small child.
Police in Sterling Heights, Michigan, say bank robber, Timothy Berner murdered one of their own officers just to steal the officer's gun
POLICE -- FIRST HE STALKED COPS, THEN HE KILLED ONE.
In the entire history of its police department, Sterling Heights, Michigan had never before had an officer murdered in the line of duty -- until Friday, June 4th, 2004.
Police are now on the hunt for the man who they say killed one of their own. Police Officer Mark Sawyers was sitting in his patrol car around 8:30 pm that Friday. Officer Sawyers was filling out an incident report on a recent car accident. He sat in the quiet parking lot of a Target store, bending over to fill out his paperwork. Cops say that's when a red Chevy Camaro pulled along the passenger side of Mark's police cruiser. Police say the driver of the Camaro, Timothy Berner, 33, fired a single shot from a shotgun into the back of Officer Sawyer's head. Cops say Berner stole Mark's handgun and fled the scene.
A surveillance camera from a nearby bank ATM recorded Berner's vehicle fleeing the scene. Interestingly enough, the ATM also recorded other images of Berner's vehicle following other cop cars. Cops say Berner had been stalking cops that afternoon, looking for the right opportunity.
Through their investigation, cops say they have uncovered Berner's criminal history. According to police in Michigan, Berner had been robbing banks - using the shotgun to intimidate customers and employees. The same shotgun they say he used to kill Officer Sawyers. According to cops, Berner told people the shotgun was too unwieldy for him - he wanted something smaller, a handgun. Berner believed, according to cops, that he could more easily walk into a bank without attracting attention. So, cops say, Berner targeted the one subject he knew would have a gun on him - a law enforcement officer. Police believe that Berner killed Officer Sawyers just so he could get his service revolver.
Now police want everyone everywhere to be on the lookout for Timothy Berner. They caution that he is armed and dangerous, now with two guns: a shotgun and a pistol. Immediately after the murder, police say that Berner went to a nearby bar and drank heavily for about three hours. They say that while he was there Berner drank his favorite drink: Jack and Coke. Cops say he also drinks Absolut and Tonic. Police say that he left, very intoxicated, with an unknown woman. Now cops want to know if she was his next victim or an accomplice. This unknown female is wanted for questioning, and they would like to know as much information about her as possible.
Cops say Berner may still be driving his 1994 red Chevy Camaro with license plate number YSR497. But, there's a good chance he's trying to ditch it. Berner is a very big guy and he likes to show off his body. Police say in the past, this 6'4" muscle man has been a body builder, and a semi-pro wrestler. Police say he was even hired to be an exotic dancer previously.
Berner was born and raised in Michigan, but he traveled the country when he served time in the US Marines. He is a Desert Storm Veteran, but was "other than honorably" discharged from the military in 1992.
Officer Sawyers joined the Sterling Heights Police Department seven months ago. Prior to joining the force he was a police officer in Detroit for three years. Officer Sawyers leaves behind a wife and eleven-month old daughter. There is a $25,000 reward for Timothy Berner's arrest, offered through the Sterling Heights Police Department.