Deputy struck, killed by vehicle during chase

LEBANON, Ohio (WDTN) - UPDATE:  The Warren County Sheriff's Department just finished a news conference about the death of Sergeant Brian Dulle.

We streamed the conference for you live just minutes ago, but we've included it here in case you didn't get a chance to see it live on WDTN.COM.

Investigators identify the suspect as Marcus Isreal, 22, of Middletown. He does have a criminal record.

He faces possible involuntary manslaughter charges for striking and killing Deputy Dulle during an early morning police chase in Warren County.

Investigators do not know why he fled from police. They do know that he left the proper lane when he struck Deputy Dulle.

It is unclear if the the car Isreal was driving was stolen or if borrowed it.

The investigation continues. This case will go to a grand jury Friday.

------------

Investigators continue to look into the death of a Warren County Sheriff's deputy who was killed while trying to stop a pursuit suspect's car.

Brian Dulle, 36, of Turtlecreek Township was struck and killed at the intersection of Utica Road and U.S. 42 shortly after 2 a.m.

Dulle was laying out stop sticks when he was hit.

Warren County Sheriff Larry Sims said Franklin police first tried to stop the suspect's car for traffic violations, but he sped away. Eventually Warren County deputies joined in the pursuit.

The suspect reportedly started going the wrong way on US 42, running one cruiser into a ditch and nearly hitting another one head-on.

That's when Sergeant Dulle prepared to use stop sticks, a strip of spikes designed to puncture a car's tires to bring the high speed pursuit to an end.

"We train on the use of those on a regular basis," said Sheriff Sims. "But let's face it. If you're standing on the side of the road as a vehicle speeding passed you there's always an inherit risk that vehicle loses control."

Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers investigating said the suspect's vehicle swerved to avoid those stop sticks and hit Sgt. Dulle. Troopers aren't sure if the driver was trying to hit Dulle or just trying to avoid the stop sticks.

The suspect ran from the crash scene. After searches by air and by ground, deputies finally found him about a mile away walking along Drake Road.