Posted on 02/22/2005 7:13:46 AM PST by Born Conservative
State police have classified the deadly police shooting of a Forty Fort man who attacked a state trooper with a chain saw as "suicide by cop," said the commander of the state police barracks at Wyoming.
William Henkle, 40, charged at 10 police officers with a chain saw before he was shot more than a dozen times outside his home at 378 River St., shortly before 5 a.m. Monday.
State Police Capt. Kenneth Hill, commander of Troop P at Wyoming, said Henkle struck Trooper Michael Hartzel in the shoulder, lower back and buttocks with the chain saw before the Forty For man was killed.
Trooper Hartzel suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. "As it looks right now, it appears to be suicide by cop," said Capt. Hill. Capt. Hill said Henkle called Luzerne County 911 at about 4:45 a.m. and reported he was having a heart attack.
Forty Fort paramedics and a borough police officer responded. They encountered Henkle with the chain saw in the driveway. Capt. Hill said the officer withdrew and called for assistance.
Four state troopers and six police officers from Kingston, Larksville and Swoyersville responded. The officers formed a semi-circle around Henkle and ordered him to drop the chain saw. "He was pepper sprayed, and he laughed at the pepper spray," Capt. Hill said. Henkle swung the chain saw and struck Trooper Hartzel. Officers shot Henkle three times.
Henkle fell to the ground, got up then charged again at the officers with the chain saw. Officers then opened fire. Capt. Hill said state troopers Hartzel, Sean Georgia and Steven Polishan, Swoyersville police Officer Adam Christian and Forty Fort police Officer John Price fired approximately 30 rounds.
Henkle was shot 13 to 18 times, but the exact number wouldn't be known until an autopsy was performed, Capt. Hill said. An autopsy was conducted Monday night at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Because the incident is still under investigation, the exact number of shots Henkle sustained is not being released, said Luzerne County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Lisman.
Lisman said Henkle died from multiple gunshot wounds. Although the incident could and might be ruled justifiable, the manner of death is medically ruled homicide, Lisman said. Capt. Hill said three residential homes were struck by rounds, but no injuries were reported.
"Five other officers were present but could not fire due to cross-fire," Capt. Hill said. "The officers withdrew several times but did not fire their weapons until they were attacked. "Henkle was struck several times, but he kept coming at them with the chain saw," Capt. Hill said.
The officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative duties, Capt. Hill said. "It's preliminary at this point, but those officers acted appropriately and justifiably," said Luzerne County District Attorney David W. Lupas. "Mr. Henkle was given every opportunity to converse his actions, but his actions caused the officers to act.
"Trooper Hartzel was faced with a near-death situation," Lupas said. "He is a very lucky individual." Capt. Hill said that Henkle has a history of mental illness and that alcohol may have been involved. Henkle lived at the home with his mother.
The encounter with Henkle and the shooting lasted approximately seven minutes, Capt. Hill said. Maria Dalazzari, a neighbor who lives across River Street, said the early morning incident in the usually quiet neighborhood awoke her from a sound sleep. "I just knew they were gunshots," she said. She recalled hearing "Boom, boom, boom."
Dalazzari said she immediately jumped out of bed and looked out the window. First, she saw police officers hunkered down in the street. Then, she saw Henkle's body lying in the roadway. She estimated the body lay there uncovered for about 25 minutes.
Her first thoughts were that police had a burglar. A rash of burglaries has occurred on the West Side in recent weeks. Dalazzari was later surprised to find out the man killed was her neighbor, Henkle. She said she didn't know the man. Most people who live on opposite sides of River Street rarely speak because of the difficulty of crossing the busy corridor that has a high volume of traffic, she said.
The woman said she was thankful that the stray bullets, some which struck homes, didn't injure any innocent residents of the street.
Ping
Was the chainsaw running?
I think not. If it was the cop he hit would be hamburger.
Billy’s Dad was a Detective yes an officer of the law.
Billy was a tremendous kid i taught him how fish.
I love that kid with all my heart even to this day.
Something he and his friends did in the past haunted him
so,,he had an honest sincere mentality this ate at him.When a good person gets into such trouble i think they/he could not deal with it.
It would not let him go.The Police involved that day in my opinion are not to blame,they were caught off gaurd of the situation.Please
understand the details are also jumbled i was his neighbor
and he loved and was loved by his neighbors.Billy gave me my
user nickname so many yrs ago.Those who corrupted Billy live with what they did.I wish i knew back then he was in need
of guidance i would have tried my all to save him from himself.It took me many yrs to learn the truth behind Billy’s actions.God Bless Billy and his Family.
Feel free to contact me.
Clyde The Mighty.
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