New York Daily News – Nicole Hensley
A rookie Scranton, Pa., patrolman died of a head injury early Sunday after falling 15 feet while chasing down three teenagers accused of robbing a man at gunpoint.
Scranton Police Department Chief Carol Graziano confirmed Officer John Wilding’s death Sunday “with deepest regret and sadness.”
The 29-year-old police officer leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 3 and 7. He joined the force in April 2014.
It’s believed Wilding suffered his fatal wound while leaping over a fence in pursuit of three teens: Tanner Curtis, Nasiir Jones and Isiah Edwards.
All three 17-year-olds were captured shortly after Wilding sustained his injuries and then arraigned Saturday night on adult charges of robbery and reckless endangerment. Both Jones and Edwards face gun charges.
They are believed responsible for robbing a victim identified as Russell Krobert at gunpoint, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported.
Jones reportedly pointed a shotgun at Krobert and dug into his pockets for valuables.
Wilding was part of the on-foot pursuit of the teens after they fled in an allegedly stolen SUV. Neighbor Rich Molnar says he saw Wilding scale a fence near Main and Lafayette Avenues and then fall.
He died while hospitalized at Geisinger Community Medical Center at 1:28 a.m., hours after about 200 people gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Scranton Police Department.
“The members of the Scranton Police Department respectfully request that you keep Officer Wilding and his family in your prayers during this time of sorrow,” Graziano wrote.
With News Wire Services
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/pa-dies-15-foot-fall-chasing-armed-teens-article-1.2289884
He was a rookie. That’s why he was still chasing criminals. No pity from me. One less knucklehead we have to deal with later.
https://www.odmp.org/officer/22533-patrolman-john-james-wilding
🙂
Now, if we could only get ’em all to follow suit!
I see the boys being also charged with murder of the rookie coproach
Not good to speak ill of the dead! Only sewer people do that.
My area again, hits the “news”. I saw this in my paper this morning.
Not only do we AMERICAN nationals hate these parasites one day after this coming conflict is over I would predict that their bones will be disinterred and left to bleach by the nearest river. Lot of Americans have been hurt by these goons. So this one gets it chasing his competitors in crime? You do the right thing for the wrong reasons what your are doing is corrupted and has NO wait of good on your side. Mostly what this goof died of any way is a case of terminal DUMB!!!!!
Swift! You’d defend a COMMISSAR? Its what you’re doing.
OUTSTANDING!!!
Best story of the entire weekend!