Wounded trooper conscious

Investigators return to scene of shooting that killed 1

A Pennsylvania State Trooper walks into a wooded area as investigators on Sunday return to scour the woods across the street from the state police barracks on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Blooming Grove Township, Pa. On Friday night, State Trooper Cpl. Bryon Dickson, 38, of Dunmore, Pa.,was killed and Trooper Alex T. Douglass, 31, of Olyphant, Pa., was wounded after a shooting ambush at the barracks. No arrests have been made yet.  (AP Photo/The Scranton Times-Tribune, Butch Comegys)  WILKES BARRE TIMES-LEADER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
A Pennsylvania State Trooper walks into a wooded area as investigators on Sunday return to scour the woods across the street from the state police barracks on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Blooming Grove Township, Pa. On Friday night, State Trooper Cpl. Bryon Dickson, 38, of Dunmore, Pa.,was killed and Trooper Alex T. Douglass, 31, of Olyphant, Pa., was wounded after a shooting ambush at the barracks. No arrests have been made yet. (AP Photo/The Scranton Times-Tribune, Butch Comegys) WILKES BARRE TIMES-LEADER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

BLOOMING GROVE, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania state trooper who was injured when a gunman ambushed him and killed another trooper outside a police barracks is conscious and talking for the first time since he underwent surgery, a spokesman said Sunday.

State police spokesman Trooper Tom Kelly said investigators hope to soon interview Trooper Alex Douglass to get additional information on the attack.

The troopers were ambushed about 10:50 p.m. Friday as one of them was leaving the barracks and another was arriving. Cpl. Bryon Dickson of Dunmore was killed.

Kelly said in an emailed statement Sunday that police are getting a large number of tips, and some are "fantastic."

He said they are keeping details of the investigation quiet to preserve the integrity of the leads.

Investigators on Sunday returned to scour the woods across from the barracks where they were ambushed.

The developments come as a nonprofit group offered a $50,000 reward for tips about Friday's deadly assault at the remote post in northeast Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said the "cowardly attack" was directed at state police and that a "very dangerous, armed criminal" eluded capture.

"Our troopers were ... shot without warning and really had no chance to defend themselves," Noonan told reporters Saturday afternoon. "It has touched us to the core that such a thing could happen."

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, which posted the reward offer, asked anyone with information to call (800) 4PA-TIPS or submit the tip online.

Law enforcement officers from at least three states Saturday searched game lands surrounding the barracks in Pike County and beyond.

"There has been an exhaustive search conducted by hundreds of members of law enforcement," Lt. Col. George Bivens said. "We are convinced this individual is no longer in that immediate area."

Police interviewed a man they called a "person of interest," but Noonan said authorities are talking to hundreds of people as part of the investigation. He stressed the man is not a suspect.

Dickson, a seven-year veteran, had transferred to the region from the Philadelphia barracks several months ago.

The slain trooper was married and had two young sons. He was described by friends as devoted to work and family.

"They were raising a beautiful young family," Melissa Contorno, a friend of Dickson's wife, told The Times-Tribune. "It's not fair."

Blooming Grove is a township of about 4,000 people about 35 miles east of Scranton.

State police spokesman Trooper Adam Reed said the barracks cover most of Pike County, a primarily rural area that runs along the Delaware River and borders New Jersey and New York.

A Section on 09/15/2014

Upcoming Events