Pennsylvania trooper killed in ambush
BLOOMING GROVE, Pa. -- A late-night ambush outside a state police barracks in Pennsylvania's rural northeastern corner left one trooper dead and another critically wounded, and authorities scoured the wooded countryside and beyond Saturday looking for the shooter or shooters.
State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said a "very dangerous, armed criminal" eluded quick capture.
"This attack was an ambush. Our troopers were ... shot without warning and really had no chance to defend themselves," Noonan told reporters Saturday afternoon. "It's a cowardly attack. It's an attack upon all of us in society."
The dead lawman was identified as Cpl. Bryon Dickson, a seven-year veteran who had transferred to the region from Philadelphia several months ago. Trooper Alex Douglass underwent surgery and was in critical but stable condition, Noonan said.
He provided few details on the shooting but said the attack was directed at state police.
The troopers were ambushed around 10:50 p.m. Friday as one of them was leaving the barracks in Blooming Grove and another was arriving.
Rights probe urged in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The president of the Oklahoma NAACP wants the U.S. attorney general to open a hate-crimes and civil-rights investigation into alleged sexual assaults on black women by an Oklahoma City police officer.
Anthony Douglas requested the investigation in an Aug. 28 letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, The Oklahoman reported Saturday. Daniel Holtzclaw was arrested Aug. 21 and accused of groping and raping several black women from February through June while on duty.
Douglas said in the letter that he applauded Oklahoma City police for investigating and arresting Holtzclaw but hopes federal officials will expand the investigation and look at its civil-rights ramifications.
Holtzclaw was charged with 16 felonies, including two counts of first-degree rape, four counts of sexual battery, four counts of forcible oral sodomy, four counts of indecent exposure, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of stalking. He is on house arrest after being released on bond.
Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty said he has not heard from Holder or the Justice Department but stressed that the Police Department will cooperate fully if a federal civil-rights investigation is ordered.
Man sues Colorado jail after losing 5 toes
CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- A man who lost five toes to diabetes while incarcerated at the Arapahoe County jail has filed a lawsuit claiming the loss was due to lack of medical care.
The lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Correctional Healthcare Companies failed to properly provide medical treatment to James Neisler.
The Denver Post reported Saturday that Neisler, 47, suffered a broken blister on his right big toe from ill-fitting boots worn while he worked in the kitchen. He was in jail awaiting resolution of misdemeanor domestic violence and drunken-driving charges.
In a response to the lawsuit, Correctional Healthcare Companies claims others outside its control, including Neisler, may have contributed to the injury. Company officials did not return a call seeking comment.
Neisler first asked for help July 20, 2013, according to the lawsuit. He was taken to the hospital Aug. 22, 2013.
"My right big toe is bleeding, oozing and twice the size of my left big toe," he wrote Aug. 12. Two days later, he wrote: "I'm begging to be taken to a hospital or wound care clinic for it to be looked at ... please take me."
Navy ends ocean search for fighter pilot
LEMOORE, Calif. -- Rescuers on Saturday called off their search of the Pacific Ocean for a Navy fighter pilot whose jet was one of two that crashed west of Wake Island.
The Navy said Saturday that it presumes the pilot is dead after failing to find him during a 36-hour search. The Navy declined to release the pilot's name pending notification of his family.
"This is an exceptionally difficult time for the friends and family of the missing pilot and the Navy community," Rear Adm. Christopher Grady said.
The two F/A-18C Hornets collided in midair about 5:40 p.m. local time about 250 miles west of Wake Island. The island is 2,300 miles west of Honolulu.
The other pilot safely ejected, was rescued from the ocean by helicopter and was treated and released from medical facilities aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 09/14/2014