Police plan to extradite Proctor man shot by cop
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By Cristina Kumka Herald Staff - Published: November 22, 2008
A Proctor man charged with attempted murder after firing shots at a Vermont State Police sergeant will face an extradition process after he recovers from gunshot wounds he sustained during the "violent gunbattle," police said Friday.
Police plan to bring John M. Walters, 51, back to Vermont when he is ready to be released from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.
Walters was still being treated Friday after he exchanged gunfire in his home with State Police Sgt. Thomas Mozzer on Wednesday, according to Sgt. Tara Thomas, public information officer for the State Police.
"Once he is ready to be released he'll be taken into custody and we will extradite him," Thomas said Friday.
"It's the same sort of process he would go through if he wasn't injured."
An extradition hearing date hasn't been determined, Thomas said.
Walters faces a charge of second-degree attempted murder, carrying a minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life without parole.
Rutland District Court Judge Thomas Zonay issued a warrant for Walters' arrest.
Walters' hospital room wasn't guarded by Vermont State troopers Friday but hospital security would notify Vermont police of any changes in Walters' status, according to Thomas.
"People standing at his door isn't necessary due to his condition," Thomas said.
Walters was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center Wednesday night, then transferred to Dartmouth after being shot in the chest, hand and legs, police said.
Mozzer responded to Walters' 9 River St. home in Proctor at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in response to a call from Walters' wife, Grace, who was concerned that her husband would drive off on his motorcycle after taking prescription medication and drinking.
Mozzer entered the home to talk to Walters only after Grace Walters told him there were no weapons in the home, police said.
When Mozzer entered the home to speak with Walters, a pharmacist and member of Calvary Baptist Church, he was met with Walters sitting on a bed in a bedroom with a 9mm handgun between his legs.
According to an affidavit written by the lead investigator in the case, Sgt. Timothy Page, the officer took cover and repeatedly asked Walters to drop his gun.
Walters responded by dropping his gun but when Mozzer tried to take him into custody, a fight between the men broke out.
Walters retrieved his gun and was pointing it at Mozzer when the officer fired, police said. Both men kept shooting. The gunfight ended when a wounded Walters fell to the floor.
A 7-year-old girl, unidentified by police Friday, witnessed the fight inside the home.
She was not taken into state custody, Thomas said.
According to Col. James Baker, director of the State Police, Mozzer wasn't injured.
Baker said his fellow officers would "work with him to help him get through what he went through."
"We have a robust clinical psychology program to support our employees," he said.
Baker wouldn't comment further on Mozzer's condition, only to say that the officer would be placed on a routine administrative leave for a few days.
Crime scene investigators and State Police detectives were in the home throughout the day Friday continuing to process the scene, Thomas said.
The exact number of shots fired by the men and Walters' motive hasn't been determined and the investigation is ongoing.
"We need more time to interview people to get to that conclusion," she said.
Baker further labeled the incident as one of many "desperate" criminal acts occurring recently and expressed concern that the economic climate may lead to more violence in the state.
Looking at newspaper headlines declaring job losses and violence, Baker said you don't need to read between the lines to figure out what's going on.
"What we are seeing is a spike in tension among families," he said.
"There were 19 homicides this year in a state that normally runs at about nine to 12 a year. There have been two armed robberies in the last two days and a baby was kicked while in a car seat in East Calais last night," Baker said.
According to Baker, some people are at their last resort.
"When every other service fails and a family and people are at their most desperate moment, they call police," Baker said.
Contact Cristina Kumka at cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com.