5 officers on leave as SBI probes shooting

Authorities say man hid in brush with rifle after fleeing in pickup

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

Five law enforcement officers involved in a Tuesday shooting that killed a man have been placed on administrative leave, authorities said.

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting that killed Marty Dale Rogers, 32, in a field near his home north of Conover and about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said Rogers, who was dressed in camouflage and hiding in the field's thick brush with an automatic rifle, was a threat to the officers surrounding him and that authorities had no choice but to fire.

The Catawba County Sheriff's Office has put four members of the STAR team - the county's version of a SWAT team - on administrative leave through Friday, Huffman said. The team is made up of officers from several police agencies in the county.

Huffman would not name all of the deputies placed on leave but did say that Maj. Coy Reid, the team's leader, was one.

The Hickory Police Department also put one officer on administrative leave, according to a news release. He is expected to return to work after the SBI completes its investigation.

SBI agent David Call would not comment on the investigation.

Deputies from the Catawba County's Sheriff Office were trying to serve Rogers with mental health commitment papers Tuesday when he jumped into his pickup and fled.

The chase ended in a field near the intersection of Three D Ranch Road and Springs Road, where Rogers got out of the truck with the rifle, ran several hundred yards and then hid in a brushy area.

Rogers was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer's bullet after he ignored commands to put down his weapon and unlocked the gun's safety clip, Huffman said.


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