Suspect in officer's shooting captured
AUBURN, Ala. -- A man opened fire on police responding to a domestic disturbance report, killing one officer and wounding two others, authorities said.
Grady Wayne Wilkes, 29, was arrested Monday and charged with capital murder. He was being held without bond in the shooting death of officer William Buechner, who had been with the Auburn Police Division for more than 13 years.
Wilkes also was charged with attempted murder in the wounding of officers Webb Sistrunk and Evan Elliott, said Police Chief Paul Register. Both are expected to recover.
District Attorney Brandon Hughes said authorities would seek the death penalty.
The chief described Wilkes as a former member of the military who was working in the area and hadn't had previous contact with police. The "Blue Alert" sent out after the officers were shot described him as wearing camouflage body armor and a helmet.
But with helicopters hovering overhead, he didn't get far. An intense, overnight manhunt led to Wilkes' arrest about nine hours after the shootings, less than a mile from the Arrow Head Trailer Park, where the officers were hit. Information from a resident helped police and U.S. marshals take him down.
A booking photo released by police showed Wilkes with red marks and apparent bruises on his face. Auburn Police spokesman Lorenza Dorsey said the injuries occurred before police found him.
The person who called police wasn't hurt, the chief said, but Wilkes also was charged with domestic violence.
The Lee County coroner, Bill Harris, said the officer who was killed died in an emergency room.
Firms' campaign-donation ban stands
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court declined an opportunity to give businesses broader rights to contribute money to political candidates and causes.
The justices, without comment Monday, refused to question a Massachusetts law that bars for-profit corporations from making campaign donations.
Two family-owned businesses, represented by the libertarian Goldwater Institute, challenged the law and urged the Supreme Court to overturn a 2003 decision that upheld limits on corporate contributions.
The two businesses, 1A Auto Inc. and 126 Self Storage Inc., argued that Massachusetts must at least let corporations donate through political action committees, as is allowed at the federal level.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the state's highest tribunal, upheld the state law as a legitimate means of guarding against corruption.
Pittsburgh gun controls await lawsuits
PITTSBURGH -- A county judge ordered Pittsburgh on Friday not to enforce firearms restrictions inspired by the deadly synagogue shooting in the city until lawsuits filed by gun owners are resolved, a decision reached after all parties agreed to the stay.
The gun restrictions were approved in April after a mass shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue that killed 11 worshippers.
The legislation restricts military-style assault weapons like the AR-15 rifle that authorities say was used in the synagogue attack. It also bans most uses of armor-piercing ammunition and high-capacity magazines, and allows the temporary seizure of guns from people who are determined to be a danger to themselves or others.
Attorney Eric Tirschwell of gun-control advocacy organization Everytown Law, who is representing the city for free, said the stay was "consistent with the city's goal all along, which is to put this in front of the court, let the courts decide whether these ordinances are permissible under Pennsylvania law."
Gun-rights advocates are suing to get the laws overturned, noting Pennsylvania law forbids municipalities from regulating the ownership or possession of firearms and ammunition. Courts have thrown out previous municipal attempts at regulation.
Attorney Joshua Prince, who represents Firearms Owners Against Crime and the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League, said he wanted the public to know that there would be no enforcement of the ordinances until a court rules on them.
Mayor calls to bill drivers in accidents
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico -- A New Mexico mayor has proposed billing drivers involved in car accidents resulting in hazardous material cleanup or victim extractions.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that Mayor Tim Keller's budget proposal for fiscal 2020 includes a new "cost recovery" channel for Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
The proposed update of the city's fire code ordinance says fees would range from $400 for hazard mitigation and cleanup, to $1,305 for use of "heavy rescue tools and other equipment" to remove victims from vehicles.
The mayor's office said the department could also bill $400 per hour for additional time at accident scenes.
Officials said the proposal passes the cost of more complicated accident situations directly to those who require them.
Critics responded that the proposal charges more for municipal services already funded by taxes.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 05/21/2019