Suspect in Mich. officer's slaying found dead - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Suspect in Mich. officer's slaying found dead

Posted: Updated:
WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -

(AP) - A former auto executive suspected of gunning down an officer who responded to a trouble call in an affluent Detroit suburb was found dead inside his house Monday evening, police said.
    
Police had been surrounding the home of Rickey Coley since Sunday night, when an officer was shot to death while responding to a report of a possible suicide attempt or medical emergency.
    
Police used construction equipment to tear a hole in a second-floor wall of the home Monday afternoon, then sent in a robot to look for the suspect, West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste. The robot found Coley's body on a bed, surrounded by knives and other weapons, she said.
    
It was not immediately clear if Coley took his own life, said police Lt. Tim Diamond.
    
During the standoff, police and Coley exchanged hundreds of rounds of gunfire, Ureste said. About 15 families had to be evacuated.
    
"It's been a very long night, a very long day," she said.
    
Coley, 50, was having legal and financial problems in his business and was recently divorced.
    
Police sent a team about 10 p.m. Sunday after getting a 911 call that Coley had tried to kill himself or needed medical attention, Diamond said. Officers called Coley's name as they climbed the stairs to the second floor and were met by shots, Diamond said.
    
Officer Pat O'Rourke was one of four or five officers who responded to the call. He was killed when shots were fired through a bedroom door and wall, police said.
    
Coley was alone in the house Monday afternoon. Before authorities sent in the piece of construction equipment, Diamond said the Oakland County sheriff's department was "trying to persuade this guy into a peaceful resolution."
    
Records show Coley headed a private equity company, CNC Holdings.
    
The U.S. Labor Department recently filed a lawsuit accusing Coley of mishandling money that was supposed to cover employee insurance at a Bad Axe, Mich., trucking company, Translogic Auto Carriers, which has been controlled by CNC since 2008.
    
The lawsuit says Coley also transferred $342,000 from Translogic to himself or his affiliates. Creditors forced Translogic into bankruptcy court in 2010.
    
Diamond said relatives called 911 and fled Coley's home Sunday after hearing shots.
    
O'Rourke, a West Bloomfield officer for 12 years, was married and had four children. In a memo to fellow officers, Lt. Curt Lawson said a "scene can turn in unexpected ways," despite the best training and preparation.
    
A vigil for the officer is planned for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, the township supervisor said. West Bloomfield is a high-income community of 65,000, about 15 miles northwest of Detroit.
 

  • Regional

  • Saturday, May 25 2013 6:33 PM EDT2013-05-25 22:33:46 GMT
    The weekend that begins the unofficial start to summer brought a record-breaking freeze to some parts of northeast Ohio this Saturday morning. Record lows were shattered in Akron and Cleveland. Youngstown tied its record.
    The weekend that begins the unofficial start to summer brought a record-breaking freeze to some parts of northeast Ohio this Saturday morning. Record lows were shattered in Akron and Cleveland. Youngstown tied its record.
  • Saturday, May 25 2013 12:48 PM EDT2013-05-25 16:48:21 GMT
    Thousands of guests had a chance to ride attractions all night long at Disney parks. Three Disney world parks stayed open for 24 hours yesterday -- to kick off the memorial day weekend. Guests pulled
    Thousands of guests had a chance to ride attractions all night long at Disney parks. Three Disney world parks stayed open for 24 hours yesterday to kick off the memorial day weekend. Guests pulled all nighties at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland and the Disney Adventure Park in Anaheim California.
  • Ohio House members want to make sure the Ohio Lottery doesn't start selling tickets on the Internet.
    Ohio House members want to make sure the Ohio Lottery doesn't start selling tickets on the Internet.
  • Top Stories

  • Saturday, May 25 2013 7:18 PM EDT2013-05-25 23:18:01 GMT
    Witnesses say a man was shot in broad daylight at Robinson Park in Toledo around 3:15 p.m. The person was taken to the hospital.
    A Toledo man was shot in broad daylight at Robinson Park in Toledo around 3:15 p.m. The person was taken to the hospital.
  • Saturday, May 25 2013 11:54 AM EDT2013-05-25 15:54:24 GMT
    We are following breaking news, Toledo Police say the man found shot inside of a car on North Reynolds near Dorr Street has died. Police say Kenneth Collins, 20, was found unconscious inside of a car
    We are following breaking news, Toledo Police say a man found shot inside of a car on North Reynolds near Dorr Street has died. Police say Kenneth Collins, 20, was found unconscious inside of a car on North Reynolds early Saturday morning.Investigators say a passerby flagged down a trooper who found Collins inside of the car. Collins later died at the hospital.
  • Friday, May 24 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:03:53 GMT
    A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up.  13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
    A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up.  13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.

Area Events Calendar

See It, Shoot It, Send It!