Pa. Deputy Sheriff Commits Suicide After Taking Cop Hostage
A Carbon County deputy sheriff's death was ruled a suicide, officials said.
Oct. 26, 2013— -- An off-duty Pennsylvania deputy sheriff fatally shot himself after he took another police officer hostage, authorities said.
Carbon County Deputy Sheriff David Midas, 33, of Weatherly, Pa., died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Cedar Crest, Pa. around 2:50 a.m. Saturday, according to a Lehigh County Coroner's Office news release.
His death was ruled a suicide.
Midas, who also worked as a Lansford police officer, went to the Lansford police station and took ammunition and an unmarked police car Friday night, law enforcement officials told ABC News station WPVI-TV in Philadelphia.
He then reportedly drove to the home of an on-duty officer, held him hostage at gunpoint before driving to Jim Thorpe, Pa.
A struggle broke out between the two men and Midas shot himself in the head, WPVI-TV reported. The hostage victim was not hurt.
Pennsylvania state police and the Lehigh County Coroner's Office are investigating the incident, the news release said.