Ludington Police Officer Shot in Line of Duty

[XLFD]

Ludington officer shot; standoff over

Report: Suspect taken safely into police custody

Updated: Tuesday, 26 Jun 2012, 9:13 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 26 Jun 2012, 8:01 PM EDT

• By Leon Hendrix

LUDINGTON, Mich. (WOOD) - A standoff situation that developed in Ludington after a police officer was shot is now over.

The officer shot is with the Ludington Police Department, 24 Hour News 8 has learned. That officer's injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The officer was responding to a domestic situation near the intersection of North Delia Street and Tinkham Avenue in Ludington when he was shot.

Authorities then responded and a standoff ensued.

A woman -- reportedly the suspect's wife -- was trapped behind a vehicle behind the house for a time, the Daily News said. A special team from the Mason County Sheriff's Office performed an operation to move her to a safe location.

Soon after, the suspect was safely taken into custody. The Ludington Daily News said he was receiving treatment from EMTs.

Jean Burtch, who lives near the scene, described what she saw to 24 Hour News 8.

She said she first noticed an officer in the area quickly put his cruiser in reverse and then jump out of the car.

"He backed his vehicle up really fast," she said. "He headed toward whatever it was that he saw. ... You could tell something was happening."

The officer then ran up an embankment toward a home, Burtch said.

"Shots were fired and he hit the ground," said Burtch. "They fired back about eight shots. ... [the office] ended up face-down in the grass."

Three law enforcement agencies -- the Ludington Police Department, the sheriff's office and Michigan State Police -- were involved in the standoff, according to the Daily News.

The Daily News said that neighbors heard shots fired.

"But you could hear buckshot hitting the vehicles. He went bang, bang bang bang, but you could hear the sprays after the shots. It wasn't fireworks and I know darn well it wasn't," the neighbor said.

Several blocks around the area of the standoff are shut down, the Daily News said. The Ludington Fire Department is directing traffic around the shut-down roads.

http://www.woodtv.com//dpp/news/local/nw_mich/Report-Shots-in-Ludin...

 

Officer Maltbie is probably one of the best all-around police officers on the Ludington Police Department, right off, I can't think of any other officer who is better at community policing in that department.  He represents that a good police officer can exist on even the most suspect departments, and I think I speak for everyone here at the Ludington Torch for his speedy and complete recovery.  Prayers, especially for his wife who serves with honor on the LPD.

 

[AQUAMAN]

This Horror couldn't have happened to a better officer, anywhere, anytime, the Best! Condolences and best wishes for a fast recovery Dave, keep up the faith and great work. Totally Shocking!

[Willy]

Ludington seems to be turning into little Detroit with kidnappings, corpes floating in the water and OK corral shootouts.

[XLFD]

Ludington isn't the only community hurting with some odd violent incidents, let's not forget Paul Hard shooting a 14 year old girl repeatedly up in Manistee County.  It's enough to scare tourists down to Pentwater.

In case you hadn't heard about Hard:  http://www.9and10news.com/story/18877896/captured-manistee-county-s...

[april]

VERY GOOD ARTICLE.

[XLFD]

Latest update has good news for Maltbie, stable condition, good spirits, and likely to make a full recovery.  The suspect has been named, Lowell Fetters, 64, and he's likely to see four walls from now on after a couple of courthouse appearances.  http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/nw_mich/chief-shot-officer-in-...