Mark David Wood captured in Kalamazoo

[RyltnVFD]

Mark David Wood, wanted in connection with the death of Mattawan Police Officer Scot Beyerstedt on July 26, 2005, was captured yesterday, Sunday, August 7, 2005 at a house in Kalamazoo.

MSP recieved a tip that Wood was in the area, and when MSP and KDPS responded to the house, 2 people told police that Wood was hiding in the bedroom. He put up a brief struggle, but was promptly in custody.

He is currently charged with 2nd Degree Homocide, and Fleeing a Police Officer.

Let's hope he gets what he deserves.

Link to story on WOOD TV 8- http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3695276&nav=0Rcdd4bN

Link to story on America's Most Wanted- http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=33726

 

[N8DRC]

Hang the S.O.B.

 

[RyltnVFD]

I say let him rot in a State Prison for the rest of his life. He'll make a nice wife for somebody.

 

[newsdork]

There is no doubt that this is a tragedy. But, to play the devils advocate; has anyone considered that this officer played a significant role in his own death. The MSP investigator has said as much citing the lack of seatbelts and the fact that Beyerstedt was a rookie officer.
Now, granted the chase would not have been on had it not been for Wood's actions and Wood should have known that his actions were likely to cause great bodily harm.

Should Wood really be held completely responsible ?

Should PD's review there policies regarding chases ? We do not know what Mattawn's policy is, they claim that it is not a matter of public policy and is not subject to the FOIA. They may or may not be correct about that. On one hand to tell me is to tell the bad guy, on the other how are we ever to know if their policy is in touch with that of every other department or if it is such that it would put officers and the public at greater risk.

My sympathies to Scot Beyerstedt's family, friends and fellow officers. It appears though, that there are some tougher questions here and the answers may not be a simple as hang the s.o.b.

 

[Andy128]

Yes

newsdork,

YES- Wood is and should be held responsible!

Playing devils advocate for what? Let the facts come out before even suggesting that the Officer is partially responsible by way of supposition.

The seatbelt was off. Ok- Lets play devils advocate as to why. You start to approach a vehicle on foot and it suddenly takes off. The Officer races back to his patrol car, jumps in and takes off. He is unable to get the seatbelt refastened as his gun is partially in the way- he is trying to get safely into traffic- talk on the radio and watch out for other drivers! It is a hazzard of the job. It has happened just like that to me on many occasions.
Sometimes I am able to re-hook the seatbelt and sometimes not.

OR- The car you are chasing starts to pull to the side of the road like they are gioing to bail out. I unlatch my seatbelt preparing for a fast and sudden
foot chase. Suddenly the perps car door shuts and we're off to the races.
Again- it is not easy to re-belt under these circumstances.

So lets not be disrespectful by playing devils advocate. Let's let all the facts come out and go from there. The Officer was performing a function
for the betterment of the comminity and society as a whole. Wood was being an idiot and risking many peoples lives- least of all the Officers. Who
do you feel comfortable siding with?

Also- I disagree with Mattawn. Department policy and procedures are subject to FOIA.

Just my two cents worth.

Andy

 

[newsdork]

A Van Buren County judge today refused to bind over Mark Wood on 2nd degree murder charges. The judge took more than a week to come to his decision. In the end the the judge said that just because Wood started the chase and just because Wood was aware that his driving was dangerous does not mean that he had any idea how the officer behind him was driving. Wood has been bound over on the lesser charge of fleeing and eluding causing death.
here is a link to a web story I was able to find.

http://woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3741572&nav=0RcddWA3


Perhaps the answers are not as easy as Hang the S.O.B.

 

[N8DRC]

Perhaps the answers are not as easy as Hang the S.O.B.

I know that was alittle too harsh.