All PoconosB2B, News, Classified and all about life in Poconos
  

Read News

Pocono News Section

EXCLUSIVE: Officer Recounts Shooting

EXCLUSIVE: Officer Recounts Shooting - Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 6:05PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 @ 06:05pm EST
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - In 20 years on the police force, Patrolman David Thomas never had a day like Tuesday.

"Kinda surreal. You actually just go on reaction as opposed to trying to think about things.," he said.

He responded to the Budget Host Inn, in Stroudsburg. Where he says a man named Derek Bengtsson shackled a 14-year-old girl to a bed and raped her.

The girl escaped and told police Bengtsson had a gun. "Obviously with him having a firearm a huge threat to the public," said Thomas.

So he and several other officers went in after Bengtsson. Thomas retraced his steps with Eyewitness News Wednesday.

They tried to get in with a hotel key card, but the door was chained shut so they forced it open.

When the officers got into the room Bengtsson fired two or three shots. They hit the wall. Thomas said, "I couldn't go backwards because of the other officers that were behind me so I just dove into the bathroom."

Then he heard more shots and stayed in the bathroom, tucked behind the only cover he could find, a shower curtain. "Maybe an hour I was posted here with my weapon pointed at the door," he explained.

Thomas sent text message updates to officers on the outside and that helped them plan a way to get into the room and get Derek Bengtsson out without anyone getting hurt. "You know things are gonna turn out the best that they can," said Thomas.

All because of a group of officers who train countless hours for the one day unlike any other.

Police never shot back at Bengtsson. They say it would have been too dangerous because there were too many innocent people around the hotel and nearby parking lot.

 


Discuss this news

Your Name (nickname):
Your Email: (will remain private)
Your Comments:
  


Home | News | Businesses | PA places | Classified | Cars for Sale | Account | Products | Home Recipes | Manuals | Stock Images | Earn Commissions | Advertise | Contact Us | Search
Raw Hack

© 2024 AllPoconos.Com All rights reserved.