NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 25, 2009
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
OCSO MOURNS LOSS OF TWO DEPUTIES KILLED IN LINE
OF DUTY
Okaloosa County Sheriff Ed Spooner Saturday says
two Okaloosa deputies killed earlier while attempting to arrest a domestic
violence suspect were fine men and excellent deputies who enjoyed serving the
public.
44-year old Deputy
Burt Lopez and 44-year old Deputy Warren "Skip" York were shot at the Shoal
River Clay Sporting Gun Range east of Crestview shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday.
They were attempting
to take 28-year old Joshua William Cartwright
into custody on a domestic violence charge when Cartwright opened fire.
He fled the
scene eastbound on Highway 90 in his pickup truck. The Florida Highway Patrol
and DeFuniak Springs Police Department assisted with efforts to stop Cartwright.
Walton County Sheriff's deputies placed spikes along the roadway near the
intersection with Highway 331. Cartwright left the pavement to avoid the spikes,
then lost control of his vehicle as he tried to get back onto the road. After
his truck flipped, Cartwright shot at Walton deputies as he tried to exit. He
was killed in an exchange of gunfire.
Prior to joining
the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Deputy York and Deputy Lopez served with
the U.S. Air Force. Deputy Lopez joined the OCSO
in October 2003. Deputy York joined the agency in February 2007.
###