Michigan deputy fatally shot during traffic stop, state’s second such death in a week

OSSEO, Mich. (AP) — A sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot during a rural traffic stop, becoming the second Michigan deputy to be killed on the job in less than a week. Police said the suspect was then shot and killed while exchanging gunfire with state troopers.

The Hillsdale County sheriff’s deputy who was shot Thursday afternoon has died at a hospital, Michigan State Police said. His name has not been released until his next of kin have been notified.

After the shooting, the suspect, Eric Michael Fiddler, fled on foot into a nearby wooded area about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) east of the small southern Michigan community of Osseo, police said.

After an hours-long manhunt, state troopers found Fiddler hiding in a field about 6:15 p.m. in a field more than a mile from where the deputy was shot. He was ordered to surrender, but instead he fired at officers, who returned fire. Fiddler was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said in a post on the social media platform X.

State police said Thursday evening that they would release more information Friday. The agency said on X that it was “heartbroken” by the death of the deputy, who became “the second police officer to be killed this week while serving the people of Michigan.”

Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Bradley J. Reckling was fatally shot Saturday while chasing a suspected stolen vehicle in Detroit. Detroit police said three people were arrested.