$50,000 reward offered for leads in killing of Pa. trooper

Associated Press

BLOOMING GROVE, Pa.

Investigators on Sunday returned to scour the woods across from a state police barracks where two troopers were ambushed, leaving one fatally shot and another critically wounded.

Troopers also set up a checkpoint near the site where they were stopping motorists to ask if they had seen anything that could help with the case, according to The Times-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1qOCc0u).

The developments come as a nonprofit group offered a $50,000 reward for tips about Friday’s deadly assault at the remote post in northeast Pennsylvania.

Reporters saw investigators walk into the dense forest surrounding the barracks in Blooming Grove around noon Sunday, though authorities suggested a day earlier that the suspect had already left the area.

Police said there would be no news conference Sunday.

The troopers were ambushed around 10:50 p.m. Friday as one of them was leaving the barracks and another was arriving. Cpl. Bryon Dickson of Dunmore was killed and Trooper Alex Douglass was injured.

Dickson, a seven-year veteran, had transferred to the region from the Philadelphia barracks several months ago. Taken to a hospital, Douglass underwent surgery and was in critical but stable condition.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said the “cowardly attack” was directed at state police and a “very dangerous, armed criminal” eluded quick capture.

“Our troopers were ... shot without warning and really had no chance to defend themselves,” Noonan told reporters Saturday afternoon. “It has touched us to the core that such a thing could happen.”

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, which posted the reward offer, asked anyone with information to call 800-4PA-TIPS or submit the tip online (http://bit.ly/1qOzY13).