OSSEO, Mich. — A sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot during a rural traffic stop, becoming the second Michigan deputy to die in the line of duty in less than a week. Police said the suspect was later shot and killed when he exchanged gunfire with state troopers.
The Hillsdale County sheriff’s deputy who was shot Thursday afternoon died at a hospital, Michigan State Police said. His name was not released until family members could be notified.
After the shooting, the suspect, Eric Michael Fiddler, fled on foot to a nearby wooded area about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) east of the small southern Michigan community of Osseo, police said.
After an hours-long manhunt, state troopers found Fiddler hiding in a field about 6:15 p.m. more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from where the officer was shot. He was ordered to surrender but instead fired at the officers, who returned fire. Fiddler was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said in a post on the social media platform X.
State police said Thursday night that they would release more information Friday. The agency said on X that it was “deeply saddened” by the death of the deputy, who “became the second police officer killed this week while serving the people of Michigan.”
Sheriff of Oakland County Deputy Bradley J. Reckling was fatally shot Saturday during the pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle in Detroit. Detroit police said three people have been arrested.