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Captured: Eric Matthew Frein, alleged cop killer and ‘most wanted’ fugitive Captured: Eric Matthew Frein, alleged cop killer and ‘most wanted’ fugitive
(about 3 hours later)
A massive 48-day manhunt for survivalist Eric Matthew Frein ended Thursday evening at an abandoned rural airport in Monroe County, Pa., some 40 miles from the state police barracks where he allegedly ambushed two state troopers, killing one and seriously injuring the other. After Frein was captured, police used the slain trooper’s handcuffs to secure him. Halloween is back on in the Pocono Mountains since suspected trooper shooter Eric Matthew Frein was captured Thursday evening. The massive 48-day manhunt had initially interrupted plans for trick-or-treaters in the search zone.
Officials said the U.S. Marshals Service had a team at the airport Thursday as part of a regular routine in the search for Frein. Marshals saw him and ordered him to surrender. He knelt down, raised his hands and admitted his identity. Frein was then transported to the barracks in Blooming Grove, Pa. — the scene of the alleged crime — and turned over to state police. Frein, 31, was found at an abandoned rural airport, some 40 miles from the state police barracks in Blooming Grove, Pa., where he allegedly ambushed two state troopers, killing one and seriously injuring the other. After Frein was captured, he was taken back to the barracks and turned over to state police. Officers used the handcuffs of slain Cpl. Bryon Dickson to secure him and loaded him into Dickson’s squad car.
Frein has been charged with ambushing two troopers outside the barracks on Sept. 12, killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and wounding trooper Alex Douglass. Since then, he has been hiding in the woods in the Pocono Mountains. “He was placed under arrest and handcuffed with the handcuffs of Cpl. Dickson, which I think is very appropriate,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) said at a late-night news conference.
“He was placed under arrest and handcuffed with the handcuffs of Cpl. Dickson, which I think is very appropriate,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) said at a late-night news conference. Frein was then loaded into Dickson’s squad car. Officials said the U.S. Marshals Service had a team at the now-defunct Birchwood-Pocono Airpark as part of a regular routine in the search for Frein. Marshals spotted him in an open field near an old hangar and ordered him to surrender. He knelt down, raised his hands and admitted his identity. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said the suspect was “taken by surprise” and arrested without incident.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said Frein, 31, was captured near an old hangar at the now-defunct Birchwood-Pocono Airpark, where authorities found a rifle and a pistol. Noonan said the suspect was “taken by surprise” and arrested without incident. Authorities recovered a rifle and a pistol from the hangar.
“He has been stripped of his guns, his bombs, and now his freedom,” Sam Rabadi, chief of the Philadelphia office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told reporters.
Frein’s FBI’s wanted poster now reads: “Captured.”Frein’s FBI’s wanted poster now reads: “Captured.”
A WBRE-TV reporter tweeted what was said to be the first photo of Frein in custody.A WBRE-TV reporter tweeted what was said to be the first photo of Frein in custody.
Frein photo from State Police source. pic.twitter.com/Usa7DRH2jc — Andy Mehalshick (@AndyMehalshick) October 30, 2014Frein photo from State Police source. pic.twitter.com/Usa7DRH2jc — Andy Mehalshick (@AndyMehalshick) October 30, 2014
Frein photo from State Police source. pic.twitter.com/Usa7DRH2jc — Andy Mehalshick (@AndyMehalshick) October 30, 2014Frein photo from State Police source. pic.twitter.com/Usa7DRH2jc — Andy Mehalshick (@AndyMehalshick) October 30, 2014
More than 1,000 law enforcement officers were involved in the search for Frein, a survivalist who eluded police for more than six weeks. On Thursday night, Noonan said the reason Frein’s capture took so long was because the wooded search area was vast and Frein was completely familiar with it. He said police “had to be very careful” how they searched. Frein, a self-styled survivalist, is charged with ambushing two troopers outside the barracks Sept. 12, killing Dickson and wounding trooper Alex Douglass. Since then, he has been hiding in the dense woods in the Pocono Mountains.
More than 1,000 law enforcement officers were involved in the manhunt. Thursday night, Noonan said the reason Frein’s capture took so long was because the wooded search area was vast and Frein was familiar with it. He said police “had to be very careful” how they searched.
Noonan said police knew that, at one point, Frein had a sniper rifle, handgun and explosive charges with him.Noonan said police knew that, at one point, Frein had a sniper rifle, handgun and explosive charges with him.
“I can’t think of a more dangerous occupation than going into the woods after this individual,” Noonan said. “Eric Frein had a mission and that was to attack law enforcement. If he got out of those woods, we were very concerned that he would then kill other law enforcement and, if not them, civilians. That’s why we had to keep the pressure on.”“I can’t think of a more dangerous occupation than going into the woods after this individual,” Noonan said. “Eric Frein had a mission and that was to attack law enforcement. If he got out of those woods, we were very concerned that he would then kill other law enforcement and, if not them, civilians. That’s why we had to keep the pressure on.”
At one point, police suspected Frein was treating the massive manhunt as a game with law enforcement officers, who would catch glimpses of him before he would disappear again into the woods. Police found several items he reportedly left behind, including military-style food packs, pipe bombs, ammunition and clothing.At one point, police suspected Frein was treating the massive manhunt as a game with law enforcement officers, who would catch glimpses of him before he would disappear again into the woods. Police found several items he reportedly left behind, including military-style food packs, pipe bombs, ammunition and clothing.
Police also found his trash, including some empty packs of cigarettes and soiled diapers. The FBI later said DNA testing on the diapers was inconclusive since they had been exposed to the elements.Police also found his trash, including some empty packs of cigarettes and soiled diapers. The FBI later said DNA testing on the diapers was inconclusive since they had been exposed to the elements.
Later, officers discovered a handwritten journal, reportedly written by Frein, that included what police described as a “cold-blooded and absolutely chilling account” of the Sept. 12 ambush. Earlier this month, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens read passages from the pages at a news conference, starting with a description of Dickson’s death.Later, officers discovered a handwritten journal, reportedly written by Frein, that included what police described as a “cold-blooded and absolutely chilling account” of the Sept. 12 ambush. Earlier this month, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens read passages from the pages at a news conference, starting with a description of Dickson’s death.
“Got a shot around 11 p.m. and took it,” Bivens read. “He dropped. I was surprised at how quick. I took a follow-up shot on his head, neck area. He was still and quiet after that.“Got a shot around 11 p.m. and took it,” Bivens read. “He dropped. I was surprised at how quick. I took a follow-up shot on his head, neck area. He was still and quiet after that.
“Another cop approached the one I just shot,” he continued, explaining how Douglass entered the scene. “As he went to kneel, I took a shot at him and he jumped in the door. His legs were visible and still.”“Another cop approached the one I just shot,” he continued, explaining how Douglass entered the scene. “As he went to kneel, I took a shot at him and he jumped in the door. His legs were visible and still.”
Frein, of Canadensis, Pa., is charged with first-degree murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer, first-degree attempted murder, possession of weapons of mass destruction, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and reckless endangerment. Authorities said they would seek the death penalty.Frein, of Canadensis, Pa., is charged with first-degree murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer, first-degree attempted murder, possession of weapons of mass destruction, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and reckless endangerment. Authorities said they would seek the death penalty.
The manhunt unnerved nearby communities. Several schools closed in northeastern Pennsylvania last week as police investigated a possible sighting of the suspect. “Let me assure you from everybody here, justice will be served,” Corbett said.
Barrett Township authorities had canceled Halloween activities. Since Frein has been captured, Halloween is now back on. The manhunt unnerved nearby communities. Earlier this month, a local resident claimed this month he has been mistaken for Frein by state troopers more than 20 times. Last week, several schools in the areas closed as police investigated a possible sighting of the suspect. And this week, Barrett Township authorities canceled Halloween. It’s back on now.
Even a local resident claimed this month he has been mistaken for Frein by state troopers more than 20 times. “Trick-or-treating is on tomorrow night,” the township’s board chairman Ralph Megliola said Thursday night. “We as a town think the kids have gone through enough.”
At the news conference late Thursday night, Corbett told reporters Frein’s capture has been a long time coming. Helen Blackmore, who lives in nearby Cresco, said she’s glad it’s all over.
“To the family of trooper Dickson, to the family of trooper Douglass and to trooper Douglass, let me assure you from everybody here, justice will be served,” he said. “It was very crazy here. The helicopters were out all the time. Nobody was sleeping. Even today they were out,” she told the Associated Press. “We’re relieved. We’re very relieved. We want things to get back to normal.”
Abby Phillip contributed to this report.Abby Phillip contributed to this report.
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