Suspect is at large, trained in survival

[thedrifter]

Cop was killed for his gun, authorities say

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 Dyke 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.




Contact ALEXA CAPELOTO at 586-469-4935 or capeloto@freepress.com.

http://www.freep.com/news/locmac/cop10_20040610.htm


Ellie

[TracGunny]

"He's a Marine, and we're very good at teaching Marines how to survive," Jones said

he was a Marine...

was dishonorably discharged in connection with a robbery and assault

...that makes him about as ex-Marine as you can get.

As stated before, it takes more than surviving Boot Camp and wearing the uniform to be a true Marine. There are a lot of pretenders out there; even if legally wearing the uniform...

[HardJedi]

Originally posted by TracGunny
he was a Marine...

...that makes him about as ex-Marine as you can get.

As stated before, it takes more than surviving Boot Camp and wearing the uniform to be a true Marine. There are a lot of pretenders out there; even if legally wearing the uniform...

That ain't no lie Gunny. Some will slip through. no matter what.

[snipowsky]

That man is no Marine! He don't even rate to be called an "ex-Marine"! No Marine would do anything like this!

Anyone else from the Midwest want to go on a hunting expedition for this "ex-Marine"?

[Toby M]

snip...unfortunately, even "we", have our ten percent! Just a matter of time before this scumbag gets caught.

[namgrunt]

This incident happened about three miles from where I sit and type this. The slain officer had been on the Detroit PD, and had just begun working for the Sterling Heights PD less than 9 months ago. His wife was happy because he had joined the department in the "safest city" in Michigan. Go figure.

You can bet this guy, Berner, will pay the price when he is collared. I hope he struggles, and they blow his brains all over the sidewalk. It would save the cost of trials and imprisonment if he somehow legally dodged the death penalty.

I consider him an "ex-Marine", as in CROSSED OUT Marine, because he was DD'ed. As much as I hate to admit it, he did graduate boot camp. He joins Lee Harvey Oswald, and Charles Whitman- the Texas Tower sniper. Two other men who sh** on the Marine Corps' reputation.

I've got my eye open for the red Camaro with MI tag # YSR-497, believe it.

[snipowsky]

I agree with you Sgt. Toby M and Sgt. namgrunt.

I honestly don't see how he won't be caught. Even Eric Rudolph was caught and they looked for him for years! This guy will slip up and the trash will be taken out then!

[benny rutledge]

Timothy Berner has forfeigted his right to claim "Marine".His actions are cowardly and ranks down there with the Hyenas and other Carrion eaters.Many outstanding Men still use that title and dont deserve the smear job.I still claim it loud and proud.Semper Fi!

[DSchmitke]

Also wanted for a bank robbery in East Lansing in April. This scumbag needs to be caught real soon.