Suspect is at large, trained in survival
June 10, 2004
BY ALEXA CAPELOTO AND NANCY A. YOUSSEF
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Sterling Heights police officer killed to get his hands on the cop's service weapon, police said Wednesday, offering the first glimpse at a motive for the seemingly random crime.
Timothy W. Berner, the lone suspect in Friday's slaying of Officer Mark Sawyers is still at large, and considered armed and dangerous. Since the shooting, questions have swirled about a motive, Berner's background, stalking of other police officers and any link between Berner and Sawyers.
Sterling Heights Police Chief Barnett Jones said Wednesday Berner, 33, is a former U.S. Marine and Gulf War veteran who was dishonorably discharged in connection with a robbery and assault in North Carolina. The discharge reportedly dates back to the early 1990s.
Police suspect Berner is responsible for two shotgun robberies in March and April, one in Lansing and one in Brighton. He had crafted a strategy that if he ever got in trouble he "planned to get the hell out of here," Jones said.
That plan, according to Jones, was to get a handgun for future crimes and go into hiding. His military-taught survival skills are helping him elude federal, state and local authorities, Jones said.
"He's a Marine, and we're very good at teaching Marines how to survive," Jones said.
"He made plans to survive this."
The chief said he doesn't know what brought Berner to a Target parking lot at 15 Mile and Van *** in Sterling Heights late Friday, but it appears he was stalking police officers for about 20 minutes and settled on Sawyers.
Just before the shooting, police said, Berner's red 1994 Chevrolet Camaro was seen closely trailing a Sterling Heights police car along Brougham Drive, a small road leading into the lot.
Berner once lived on Brougham Drive with his parents.
That patrol car drove past the lot and onto another street, moves that were recorded by a security camera at a nearby bank, Sterling Heights Police Capt. Dave Vinson said.
Soon after, the Camaro is seen on the video following Sawyers' patrol car along the same street, Vinson said. Sawyers pulled into the lot and came to a stop so he could file a report into his car's computer.
He was killed by a shotgun blast to the head about three minutes later. Witnesses said they saw the shooter get out of a red Camaro, lean into the patrol car, take the officer's .40 caliber Glock handgun and drive away.
"He's as cold-blooded as he seems," Vinson said of Berner.
In what police call a coincidence, Sawyers and Berner may have known each other years ago because both worked as busboys at the same local restaurant. The past link has nothing to do with the shooting, they insisted.
Berner "never looked at that officer's face" before firing his shotgun, Jones said.
The Camaro bears Michigan plate YSR 497 and is registered to Berner.
The search for Berner began Friday night and has turned into an all-out manhunt, involving the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and state and local police agencies. He'll also be featured in an episode of "America's Most Wanted," airing at 9 p.m. Saturday on the Fox network.
Court records show he has been in trouble with driving while impaired and child support for his 13-year-old son. He has moved often and has had several short-lived jobs at places such as the Ground Round restaurant in Royal Oak, a Lake Orion roofing company, a Livonia contracting firm and a Clinton Township night club.
His last known address was in Clinton Township.
At Sawyers' funeral Wednesday, officers from other police departments speculated about Berner's whereabouts. So little was known about the fugitive that guesses were all they had.
"They're probably not going to get him now," said Grosse Pointe Park Police Officer Tom Taylor, 25, of Warren. "If he's smart, he's probably killed himself by now."
There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to Berner's capture.
Berner is 6-foot-4 and weighs about 250 pounds, police said. He has blue eyes and brown hair. Anyone with information about the shooting may call the Sterling Heights Police Department at 586-446-2800 anytime.
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June 10, 2004
BY ALEXA CAPELOTO AND NANCY A. YOUSSEF
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Sterling Heights police officer killed to get his hands on the cop's service weapon, police said Wednesday, offering the first glimpse at a motive for the seemingly random crime.
Timothy W. Berner, the lone suspect in Friday's slaying of Officer Mark Sawyers is still at large, and considered armed and dangerous. Since the shooting, questions have swirled about a motive, Berner's background, stalking of other police officers and any link between Berner and Sawyers.
Sterling Heights Police Chief Barnett Jones said Wednesday Berner, 33, is a former U.S. Marine and Gulf War veteran who was dishonorably discharged in connection with a robbery and assault in North Carolina. The discharge reportedly dates back to the early 1990s.
Police suspect Berner is responsible for two shotgun robberies in March and April, one in Lansing and one in Brighton. He had crafted a strategy that if he ever got in trouble he "planned to get the hell out of here," Jones said.
That plan, according to Jones, was to get a handgun for future crimes and go into hiding. His military-taught survival skills are helping him elude federal, state and local authorities, Jones said.
"He's a Marine, and we're very good at teaching Marines how to survive," Jones said.
"He made plans to survive this."
The chief said he doesn't know what brought Berner to a Target parking lot at 15 Mile and Van *** in Sterling Heights late Friday, but it appears he was stalking police officers for about 20 minutes and settled on Sawyers.
Just before the shooting, police said, Berner's red 1994 Chevrolet Camaro was seen closely trailing a Sterling Heights police car along Brougham Drive, a small road leading into the lot.
Berner once lived on Brougham Drive with his parents.
That patrol car drove past the lot and onto another street, moves that were recorded by a security camera at a nearby bank, Sterling Heights Police Capt. Dave Vinson said.
Soon after, the Camaro is seen on the video following Sawyers' patrol car along the same street, Vinson said. Sawyers pulled into the lot and came to a stop so he could file a report into his car's computer.
He was killed by a shotgun blast to the head about three minutes later. Witnesses said they saw the shooter get out of a red Camaro, lean into the patrol car, take the officer's .40 caliber Glock handgun and drive away.
"He's as cold-blooded as he seems," Vinson said of Berner.
In what police call a coincidence, Sawyers and Berner may have known each other years ago because both worked as busboys at the same local restaurant. The past link has nothing to do with the shooting, they insisted.
Berner "never looked at that officer's face" before firing his shotgun, Jones said.
The Camaro bears Michigan plate YSR 497 and is registered to Berner.
The search for Berner began Friday night and has turned into an all-out manhunt, involving the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and state and local police agencies. He'll also be featured in an episode of "America's Most Wanted," airing at 9 p.m. Saturday on the Fox network.
Court records show he has been in trouble with driving while impaired and child support for his 13-year-old son. He has moved often and has had several short-lived jobs at places such as the Ground Round restaurant in Royal Oak, a Lake Orion roofing company, a Livonia contracting firm and a Clinton Township night club.
His last known address was in Clinton Township.
At Sawyers' funeral Wednesday, officers from other police departments speculated about Berner's whereabouts. So little was known about the fugitive that guesses were all they had.
"They're probably not going to get him now," said Grosse Pointe Park Police Officer Tom Taylor, 25, of Warren. "If he's smart, he's probably killed himself by now."
There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to Berner's capture.
Berner is 6-foot-4 and weighs about 250 pounds, police said. He has blue eyes and brown hair. Anyone with information about the shooting may call the Sterling Heights Police Department at 586-446-2800 anytime.
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