UPDATED STORY – Thu, Nov 6th 2:15 p.m.
by Steve Stewart
The man accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer and her police dog on Sunday afternoon has now been charged and his bond has been set at $1.3 million.
Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, has been charged with Attempted Capital Murder, and he was already named in warrants on charges of Retaliation and Interference with Public Service.
Jacksonville Police Chief Steven Makasky said Tuesday that the female officer was on patrol when she saw Dennis outside of a house and she knew that he had arrest warrants, so she stopped and got out. However, Dennis ran behind a house and he then came back with a rifle and began shooting at the officer. Chief Makasky said the officer took cover behind her patrol vehicle, and the rifle shots began hitting the vehicle, one of which struck her dog inside.
The officer took off running to get better cover and a bullet struck her upper arm and knocked her to the ground. She got back up and another bullet struck her leg.
Dennis then fled in a pickup truck and he remained at-large until he was captured Wednesday night between Jacksonville and Frankston.
The officer was flown by a medical helicopter to a Tyler hospital where she underwent surgery and is now recovering. Meanwhile, the dog was treated at a veterinary clinic and is also recovering.
ORIGINAL STORY – Thu, Nov 6th 6:23 a.m.
by Mike Lout
KLTV in Tyler is reporting that one of the largest manhunts in East Texas is over. Officers in Cherokee County have captured Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, who is accused of shooting a police officer in Jacksonville on Sunday not once but twice in what the police chief there Steven Markasky has said was a deliberate attempt to kill her.
Dennis was reportedly captured shortly before 9:00 on Wednesday evening in a wooded area near the small community of Cuney, which is located on Highway 175 between Jacksonville and Frankston.
According to the report, Dennis who had apparently been hiding in the woods, was taken into custody without incident and at last word was being held in the Cherokee County Jail at Rusk. Bond on Dennis has been set at 1.3 million dollars.
Chief Markasky said earlier in the week that the female officer was on patrol when she saw Dennis who she knew was wanted and attempted to take him into custody. However, Dennis reportedly ran behind a home and appeared again with a rifle and began to shoot at the officer. As the officer tried to get behind her patrol unit, Dennis reportedly chased after her and shot her in the arm and leg. He also shot a police dog that was with the officer.
The officer, who has not been identified by police, was taken to a hospital in Tyler, where she is reported to be in stable condition after undergoing at least one surgery.
The police dog is also said to be recovering after undergoing treatment at a veterinary clinic.
Ironically, officers used the same handcuffs the wounded officer was carrying when they arrested Dennis.