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News Break
06/16/2003 08:40:07 EST

Vt. Trooper Killed Trying to Stop Driver

A driver who had fled after he was pulled over for speeding struck and
killed a veteran
trooper who was trying to stop his car, authorities said.

State Police Sgt. Michael Johnson, 39, had placed spike strips on
Interstate 91 in Norwich
on Sunday to stop motorist Eric Daley, 23, police said. Daley swerved
to miss the spikes,
struck Johnson as he tried to take cover, then got out of his car and
fled into a wooded
area, police said. A search for the suspect continued Monday.

Johnson died Sunday at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon,
N.H.

"Sergeant Michael Johnson of the Vermont State Police today made the
ultimate sacrifice and
gave his life in the line of duty," said Gov. James Douglas. It was
the first death of a
Vermont trooper in the line of duty in more than 10 years.

Daley, driving a 1991 Nissan NX Coupe, had been stopped for speeding
by another trooper
about 3:45 p.m. State police said he fled south about five miles until
he came to the spikes
Johnson had placed on the highway to puncture his tires.
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They Caught the guy responsible for this crime.

Suspect in State Trooper's Death Caught
By LISA RATHKE
Associated Press Writer

A man suspected of hitting and killing a state trooper with his car
while fleeing police was
captured Tuesday on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.

Eric Daley, 23, was arraigned in Pennsylvania Tuesday night on
fugitive from justice
charges. He was ordered jailed without bail.

The search for Daley began Sunday after he was stopped for speeding,
Vermont State Police
said. A trooper suspected there might be drugs in the car, but Daley
allegedly refused his
request to search it.

While the trooper conferred with other officers about seeking a search
warrant, Daley
allegedly drove off. During the police chase, trooper Michael Johnson
set up spikes on the
road to stop him. The car swerved to avoid the spikes and smashed into
Johnson, police said.

Daley was taken to a trailhead in Slateford, Pa., by someone Vermont
police described as an
associate. Vermont authorities said police in New Hampshire and
Massachusetts helped them
find Daley, who is from Lebanon, N.H.

A search of the wrecked car Daley had been driving Sunday turned up
two pounds of marijuana
and white powder that tested positive preliminarily as cocaine.
Suspected LSD also was
found, along with $475 in cash, state police said.

Daley is wanted in Vermont on charges of gross negligent operation
with death resulting,
leaving the scene of a fatal accident and attempting to elude police.

He already was facing two felony drug charges in New Hampshire from
March 2003. He's accused
of marijuana, cocaine and hashish possession.

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