User:Navyjer/Kyle Dinkheller

Kyle Wayne Dinkheller (June 18, 1975 - January 12, 1998) was a deputy with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office in Georgia. Near the end of his shift on January 12, 1998, Dinkheller pulled a motorist over for speeding. A confrontation ensued and deputy Dinkheller was shot and killed. The suspect was wounded in the stomach by a shot from Dinkheller's service weapon. Despite the wound, the perpetrator, Andrew Brannan was able to flee the scene but was discovered the next morning by police and arrested for the murder of deputy Dinkheller. Brannan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, however the jury found that the murder of deputy Dinkheller was carried out in a torturous and cruel manner. . Brannan was found guilty of murder on January 28, 2000 and sentenced to death on January 30, 2000. .

Confrontation and Shootout
Deputy Dinkheller encountered a speeding Toyota truck near Dudley, Georgia which he clocked at nearly 100 mph. The deputy pulled the truck over on a rural dirt road adjacent to the interstate. The traffic stop at first appeared to be routine with both the deputy and Mr. Brannan exiting their vehicles and exchanging greetings. However, Mr. Brannan placed both hands into his pockets at which point deputy Dinkheller instructed him to remove his hands and keep them in plain view. At this point, Mr. Brannan becomes belligerent and yells at the deputy to "shoot him". He then begins to dance and wave about his arms in the middle of the road. At this point, Dinkheller radios dispatch for assistance and issues commands for Mr. Brannan to cease his behavior and approach the cruiser. However when Mr. Brannan sees that the deputy is calling in for other units, he runs toward the deputy in an aggressive manner. Dinkheller retreats while issuing commands and utilizing his baton to keep Mr. Brannan at bay. On Dinkheller's cruiser video, Brannan can be heard shouting that he is a "Vietnam combat veteran" and that he "is in fear for his life".

Despite commands issued from Dinkheller, the suspect walks back to his vehicle and draws an MI carbine military style rifle from under the driver's seat and takes cover near the driver side door. Deputy Dinkheller positions himself near the passenger door of his cruiser and fires a shot at Brannan but misses. After the first shot, a barrage of gunfire is then heard as both men expend dozens of rounds. Dinkheller does not strike the suspect initially and is forced to reload. At this point, Brannan runs from the truck toward the deputy and begins to fire, hitting Dinkheller in exposed areas such as the arms and legs. Brannan then begins to reload his weapon as the now injured Dinkheller tries to position himself near the driver side door of the cruiser. Another shot from Dinkheller is heard in which Brannan begins advance firing at the deputy, hitting him numerous times. Before being disabled from gunfire, Dinkheller was able to inflict a gunshot wound to the stomach of Brannan. After being struck and clutching his stomach, Brannan then raises his weapon and fires two more shots with one striking Dinkheller in the head, killing him. Brannan then retreats to his vehicle and flees the scene.

Aftermath
Brannan was arrested the next morning without incident. He was found guilty in January 2000 for the murder of deputy Dinkheller and sentenced to death. As of December 2010, he is still incarcerated in Georgia. The entire incident was videotaped on deputy Dinkheller's cruiser dash cam. The video is now used throughout law enforcement to train new officers.

Deputy Dinkheller is survived by his wife, daughter, and son. His wife gave birth to their son in September 1998. Deputy Dinkheller was laid to rest in Fountainhead Memorial Park in Brevard County, Florida.