- Eric Frein, 31, was captured in an airport hangar on Thursday night
- Officers said he sustained the injuries while being held down during capture
- They also explained why they searched the hangar, stating: 'If we were on the run, this is a place we would hide'
- Commander Scott Malkowski described how he spied on Frein in the woods
- His team then flanked out and stormed the property and detained him
- The survivalist was caught after 48 days on the run in Pennsylvania
Details
have emerged of how 'cop killer' Eric Frein got the gash on his nose
and scrape on his eye while U.S. Marshals have revealed it was a 'hunch'
that led them to his hideout.
Officers
said the 31-year-old survivalist sustained the facial injuries while he
was being held down in an abandoned hangar during his capture, after 48
days on the run from law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
They
also explained why they searched the rundown airport on the edge of the
Pocono Mountains, stating: 'If we were on the run, this is a place we
would hide.'
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Detained:
Officers said the 31-year-old survivalist sustained the facial injuries
while he was being held down in an abandoned hangar during his capture
Hideout:They also explained why they
searched the rundown airport on the edge of the Pocono Mountains,
stating: 'If we were on the run, this is a place we would hide'
First court
appearance: On Friday morning, the suspected cop-killer arrived at court
(pictured) to be arraigned on charges including first-degree murder.
Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty in Frein's case
Scott
Malkowski, a task force commander with the U.S. Marshals Service, spied
a figure moving from the woods toward an abandoned airplane hangar in
the Pocono Mountains. Looking at his face, his black hat and fleece, and
his height and weight, Malkowski was certain he had his man.
'Suspect,'
he told the two operators by his side, and they fanned out on either
side of their quarry, who had no idea he'd just been spotted. Hidden by
tall grass, Malkowski moved stealthily toward his target, adrenaline
coursing through his body.
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The
Marshals Service was one of several state and federal law enforcement
agencies that took part in the intensive manhunt for Frein — the
survivalist and marksman charged in a deadly sniper attack outside the
Blooming Grove state police barracks — and wound up nabbing him on the
48th day of the search.
Frein
had an initial court appearance Friday morning and remained jailed
without bail on first-degree murder and other charges in the Sept. 12
ambush that killed Cpl. Bryon Dickson and critically wounded Trooper
Alex Douglass.
He did not have a lawyer and was not asked to enter a plea. A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 12.
The district attorney plans to seek the death penalty.
Until
his capture around 6 p.m. Thursday, Frein had some residents beginning
to wonder if law enforcement was up to the task, given the rugged
terrain of the Poconos and the evident skill with which he eluded dogs,
thermal-imaging cameras and teams of heavily armed officers
Caught: The abandoned facility was surrounded by police who then entered and found Frein cowering inside
Scott Kimball, though, never had a doubt.
'We expected to find him,' said Kimball, 48, a Virginia-based member of the U.S. Marshals' special operations group.
On
Thursday, Kimball was stationed in a command post while Malkowski, 44,
and other members of the team — acting on a request from Pennsylvania
State Police — worked to clear an abandoned resort. About two hours in,
Malkowski and two others approached the hangar at the old
Birchwood-Pocono Airpark.
'We just had a hunch that if we were on the run, this is a place we would hide,' he said.
Once
Frein was spotted, Malkowski and his team sneaked up on the fugitive.
They were about 25 yards away when Frein finally realized he wasn't
alone. Malkowski identified himself as law enforcement and ordered
Frein, who was unarmed but had weapons in the hangar, to get on the
ground.
'What's your name?' Malkowski asked.
Frein told him.
He made no attempt to flee and didn't put up a fight.
'He
had nowhere to go. There is nothing he could've done,' Malkowski said,
adding: 'From what I saw, he felt defeated because we'd won. We'd
defeated him.'
After
the marshals turned him over to state police, Frein was placed in
Dickson's handcuffs and driven in Dickson's squad car to the Blooming
Grove barracks.
Earlier this week details contained in a note left by Frein while he was on the run from police were released to the public.
Police have also revealed photos from inside the abandoned hangar where he was found, including a dirty mattress and sheets.
Aftermath: Officers from the US
Marshals investigate the scene which had graffiti-covered walls and
discarded pieces of furniture scattered all over the floor
Bruised and bloodied: Sporting cuts
and bruises on his face, Frein was escorted by police (pictured) into
the courthouse, while members of the public cheered and applauded the
police's efforts to track him down
Details
of the note were released with a public affidavit listing the charges
he faces - including the first degree murder of Cpl Byron Dickson and
attempted homicide.
The note
read: 'Fri Sept 12th got a shot around 11pm and took it. He droped
[sic]....I was surprised at how quick. I took a follow up shot on his
head/kneck neck area.
'He
was still and quiet after.....Another cop approached the one I just
shot. As he went to kneel I took a shot at him and jumped in the door.
His legs were visible and still.'
'I
ran back to the jeep....I made maybe half a mile from the GL road and
hit a road block. I didn't expect one so soon. It was only 15-20 min.
'I did a K turn ¼ a mile from them and pulled into a development I knew had unfinished acess [sic] road....
'Hearing helos I just used my marker lights missed the train around a run off pool and drove straight into it. ! Disaster!
Center of attention: Some even shouted questions at the defendant, including: 'Eric, did you kill that trooper?'
'Made half attempt to stash AK and ran.' Police later found the Jeep submerged in water.
Officers
in the report said an analysis of the note indicated that he had not
revealed the identity of either victim or whether he knew them.
In
a symbolic move, he was shackled with handcuffs used by the trooper he
reportedly shot dead, before being driven in the officer's car to the
barracks where his alleged victim was gunned down.
As
Frein arrived in court on Friday morning some even shouted questions at
the defendant, including: 'Eric, did you kill that trooper?' and 'Eric,
are you sorry?' Frein remained silent throughout.
U.S.
Marshals arrested Frein after receiving reports of a man going in and
out of an empty hangar on the base in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, and
later found a sniper rifle and pistol stashed nearby.
The
quiet takedown of the suspect, who kneeled and put his hands up when
marshals approached him, ended weeks of tension and turmoil in the area,
as authorities at times closed schools, cancelled outdoor events and
blockaded roads to pursue him.
The
search involved hundreds of law enforcement officials fanned out across
the Pocono Mountains and cost around $10 million, State Police
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens said.
During
Friday's arraignment, Frein appeared gaunt and battered as he answered
yes or no questions and listened as a judge read the criminal complaint
detailing the September 12 attack.
He
did not have a lawyer and was not asked to enter a plea to murder,
attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer and possessing weapons
of mass destruction. Officers insisted the injuries to the suspect's
face were sustained before his arrest.
Speaking
outside court, Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin said
Frein's arrest should comfort a community that has suffered
'unimaginable loss of unspeakable proportions.'
Brought to court: Prosecutors and
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett are expected to address the media
separately after the arraignment. Above, Frein is led to the courthouse
by two state police officers
The quiet takedown of Frein, who
kneeled and put his hands up when marshals approached him, ended weeks
of tension and turmoil in the area, as authorities at times closed
schools and blockaded roads to pursue him
Police presence:
Pennsylvania State Police SWAT officers stand by as Eric Frein arrives
at the Pike County Courthouse for his arraignment in Milford on Friday.
Frein, was caught seven weeks after his alleged crimes
Officers armed with rifles stand outside the courtroom. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Frein
'We have now started to find the answers that the community desired in this case,' he told the press, according to the LA Times.
'The
families in this matter... will never be the same but today we find
some comfort as a community that we are taking these next steps toward
justice.'
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and prosecutors are expected to address the media later on Friday, according to NBC.
Earlier
in the day, Frein was transported to the Blooming Grove barracks to be
booked and await arraignment - the same police station where the
shootings took place on September 12.
After 48 days on the run, the survivalist was remarkably clean shaven.
At a press conference held Thursday night, officials broke down the events leading up to his capture.
Speaking to the press: Pike County
District Attorney Ray Tonkin (far right) holds a news conference to talk
about the arraignment of Eric Frein at the Pike County Courthouse in
Milford today
Captured:
Eric Frein is pictured in the back of a police cruiser on Thursday night
after his arrest at an abandoned air strip in Tannersville,
Pennsylvania. He has been on the run from police in Pennsylvania since
allegedly shooting a state trooper dead on September 12
Collared: U.S. Marshals captured Frein
after spotting him trying to enter a hangar near the abandoned
Birchwood Resort. Frein was symbolically arrested with the handcuffs of
fallen State Trooper Byron Dickson - who Frein allegedly shot dead at
the police barracks in Blooming Grove Township, some 35 miles away
They
said a group of U.S. Marshals was searching the area near the abandoned
Birchwood Resort in Tannersville, about 35 miles southwest of the scene
of the shooting last month.
Around 6pm, the group observed Frein walking towards the airport hangar in the middle of the field and ordered him to stop.
Frein
followed their orders and was arrested using with the handcuffs of
fallen State Trooper Cpl Byron Dickson - the man Frein allegedly
killed.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan told the Thursday night press conference Frein was 'taken by surprise.'
'He did not just give up because he was tired,' he said. 'He gave up because he was caught.'
He
added there was no indication Frein was being helped by anyone, and
that authorities didn't know how long he had been staying in the area of
the hangar.
State troopers escort Eric Frein from the Blooming Grove barracks early today after a 48-day manhunt
Bloodied: Frein had suffered a cut to his nose, but police initiually said he sustained the injury before his arrest
Scene: Above, the abandoned air strip
in Tannersville, Pennsylvania where Frein was captured Thursday night.
It was previously reported he was taken into custody at Pocono Mountain
Airport - about 10 miles north
He
said they will later release what Frein said at the time of his arrest.
'I'm glad that it ended without any other loss of life - including
his,' Noonan said.
State
Trooper Alex Douglass, who was seriously injured, and Dickson's family
expressed 'relief and gratitude' over Frein's arrest, Noonan said.
Governor Tom Corbett also appeared at the conference to say 'justice will be served' for the families.
Frein
has been charged with first-degree murder, homicide of a law
enforcement officer, attempted first-degree murder, possession of
weapons of mass destruction, discharging a firearm into an occupied
structure and reckless endangerment.
Mr Tonkin said he will seek the death penalty in Frein's expected trial.
'Justice will be served': Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett speaks to the media after Frein's capture
The Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin said he will seek the death penalty at Frein's expected trial
Found:
Frein was on the FBI's most wanted list (left) for allegedly shooting
dead a police trooper and seriously injuring another last month in
Blooming Grove township. Officials say he was able to evade capture for
so long because he is a native to the area and familiar with the woods.
He is also a self-taught survivalist who used to participate in war
re-enactments (right)
Before
his capture, fears were so high in the community that Halloween
trick-or-treating was cancelled. Just after Frein's arrest, however,
celebrations were put back on for Friday night.
Frein is charged with opening fire outside the barracks last month, killing Cpl Dickson and seriously wounding Douglass.
Police
linked him to the ambush after a man walking his dog discovered the
suspect's partly submerged SUV three days later in a swamp a few miles
from the shooting scene.
Inside,
investigators found shell casings matching those found at barracks as
well as Frein's driver's license, camouflage face paint, two empty rifle
cases and military gear.
Saying Frein was armed and extremely dangerous, officials had closed schools and urged residents to be alert and cautious.
Using
dogs, thermal imaging technology and other tools, law enforcement
officials combed miles of forest as they hunted for the suspect, whom
they called an experienced survivalist at home in the woods.
Victims:
Frein is charged with the shooting that killed Cpl Byron Dickson (left)
and seriously wounded State Trooper Alex Douglass (right)
Tiffany Dickson places a rose on husband Bryon Dickson's casket during his funeral service last month
Tiffany
Dickson embraces her seven-year-old son Bryon III, in front of Cpl
Dickson's casket, while, right, Adam Dickson, 5, wears a feathered
bonnet that belongs to a member of the New Jersey State Police Pipe Band
They
pursued countless tips, and closed in on an area around Frein's
parents' home in Canadensis after he used his cellphone to try
contacting them, and the signal was traced to a location about three
miles away.
At times, police ordered nearby residents to stay inside or prevented them from returning home.
Trackers
found items they believe Frein hid or abandoned in the woods —
including soiled diapers, empty packs of Serbian cigarettes, an
AK-47-style assault rifle and ammunition, and two pipe bombs that were
functional and capable of causing significant damage.
They
also discovered a journal, allegedly kept by Frein and found in a bag
of trash at a hastily abandoned campsite, that offered a chilling
account of the ambush and his subsequent escape into the woods.
The journal's author described Dickson as falling 'still and quiet' after being shot twice.
Police
spotted a man they believed to be Frein at several points during the
manhunt, but it was always from a distance, with the rugged terrain
allowing him escape.
On the hunt: Pennsylvania State Police
Troopers walk along Route 191 after searching the woods in Henryville,
Pennsylvania on Monday, October 27, 2014, during the manhunt for
suspected killer Eric Frein
Into the woods: State troopers hike through the words looking for Frein on October 27
Police said he appeared to be treating the manhunt as a game.
Frein
allegedly held anti-law enforcement views for many years and expressed
them both online and to people who knew him. But the source of his
alleged vendetta remains unclear.
His
criminal record appears limited to a decade-old misdemeanor case
involving items stolen from a World War II re-enactors event in upstate
New York, for which he spent 109 days in jail.
Police
found a U.S. Army manual called 'Sniper Training and Employment' in the
suspect's bedroom at his parents' house, and his father, a retired Army
major, told authorities his son is an excellent marksman who 'doesn't
miss,' according to a police affidavit.
Authorities
believe he had been planning a confrontation with police for years,
citing information they found on a computer used by Frein.
Frein belonged to a military re-enactor's group, playing the part of a Serbian solder.
He
had a small role in a 2007 movie about a concentration camp survivor
and helped with props and historical references on a documentary about
World War I.
A Pennsylvania State Police Trooper
patrols the cemetery at St Paul's United Church of Christ last week in
Swiftwater, Pa, during the search for suspected police killer Eric Frein
Exploring every avenue: Crews launch a
new Ohio Dept of Transportation surveillance blimp in June which police
say they later used in the manhunt for Eric Frein
The FBI named him to its 10 most wanted list.
His
18-year-old sister, Tiffany Frein, earlier acknowledged that her
brother 'did something messed up' but told NBC News that he is 'not a
psycho.'
The
charges against Frein include two counts of possession of weapons of
mass destruction filed after police discovered the pipe bombs.
At
his funeral, Cpl Dickson was described as a devoted husband and father
and an 'impeccable' ex-Marine who took his work seriously, but who also
enjoyed making wooden toys for his young sons and finding humor in
everyday situations.
Trooper
Alex Douglass was shot in the pelvis and critically injured in the
ambush, which took place during a late-night shift change.
Douglass remained hospitalized until October 16, when he was discharged to a rehabilitation facility.
During Friday's arraignment, Frein was not granted bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.
On the run: A wanted advert for Eric Frein is displayed at a grocery store in Philadelphia on September 20
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