TheeBadOne
Member
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 21, 2003 12:00 AM
BLACK CANYON CITY - An elderly man has been shot dead by sheriff's deputies in what authorities said may be a case of suicide by cop.
John Lichtenwalter, 73, described by relatives as a retired geologist in failing health, died Saturday during a confrontation at his home.
A sister, Anne Wing, 56, of Seligman, said Monday that she is skeptical of the explanation that Yavapai County sheriff's deputies have offered.
"I'm very upset," Wing said when contacted at her brother's home. "It looks like a war zone here. The place was obliterated by all the bullets."
"We want some answers and we're not getting anything from anybody," added her husband, Dale, 57.
Dale said Lichtenwalter had traveled the world as an exploratory geologist but had become enfeebled and needed a walker to get around.
Lichtenwalter lived in Black Canyon City since 1989, where he was well-known by residents and was a volunteer worker at a local food bank, he said.
Lt. Steve Francis, a spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, said the shooting occurred after dispatchers received a call from a health provider in Texas saying a man was on the telephone threatening suicide.
The man, later identified as Lichtenwalter, warned that he would kill himself and anyone else who showed up at the home, Francis said.
Three deputies, Ben Lenett, Frank Alvarez and Ryan Goodell, arrived at the man's home about 6:40 p.m. Saturday where they encountered Lichtenwalter, who was armed with a handgun, Francis said.
Deputies failed in efforts to get Lichtenwalter to put down the weapon, Francis said.
"Lichtenwalter ultimately pointed the weapon at deputies, forcing them to shoot Lichtenwalter, who died at the scene," Francis added.
The shooting is being investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Officer Steve Volden, a spokesman for DPS, said it will be weeks, if not months, before the probe is completed.
In the meantime, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has made a preliminary determination that the shooting was within the agency's use-of-force guidelines.
Susan Quayle, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said Monday that based on the decision, the three deputies, who have been on temporary paid leave, will be going back to work.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1021manshot21.html
Oct. 21, 2003 12:00 AM
BLACK CANYON CITY - An elderly man has been shot dead by sheriff's deputies in what authorities said may be a case of suicide by cop.
John Lichtenwalter, 73, described by relatives as a retired geologist in failing health, died Saturday during a confrontation at his home.
A sister, Anne Wing, 56, of Seligman, said Monday that she is skeptical of the explanation that Yavapai County sheriff's deputies have offered.
"I'm very upset," Wing said when contacted at her brother's home. "It looks like a war zone here. The place was obliterated by all the bullets."
"We want some answers and we're not getting anything from anybody," added her husband, Dale, 57.
Dale said Lichtenwalter had traveled the world as an exploratory geologist but had become enfeebled and needed a walker to get around.
Lichtenwalter lived in Black Canyon City since 1989, where he was well-known by residents and was a volunteer worker at a local food bank, he said.
Lt. Steve Francis, a spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, said the shooting occurred after dispatchers received a call from a health provider in Texas saying a man was on the telephone threatening suicide.
The man, later identified as Lichtenwalter, warned that he would kill himself and anyone else who showed up at the home, Francis said.
Three deputies, Ben Lenett, Frank Alvarez and Ryan Goodell, arrived at the man's home about 6:40 p.m. Saturday where they encountered Lichtenwalter, who was armed with a handgun, Francis said.
Deputies failed in efforts to get Lichtenwalter to put down the weapon, Francis said.
"Lichtenwalter ultimately pointed the weapon at deputies, forcing them to shoot Lichtenwalter, who died at the scene," Francis added.
The shooting is being investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Officer Steve Volden, a spokesman for DPS, said it will be weeks, if not months, before the probe is completed.
In the meantime, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has made a preliminary determination that the shooting was within the agency's use-of-force guidelines.
Susan Quayle, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said Monday that based on the decision, the three deputies, who have been on temporary paid leave, will be going back to work.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1021manshot21.html
