Woman saw slaying of officer son during ride-along

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Woman saw slaying of officer son during ride-along

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2010/08/30/D9HU47000_us_alaska_officers_killed/index.html

MONDAY Aug 30, 2010 19:50 ET

By RACHEL D'ORO, Associated Press

A friend of one of two police officers gunned down in a tiny Alaska village says the officer's visiting mother witnessed the fatal shootings because she was on a patrol ride-along with her son.

Jamie Brothers says the mother, Debbie Greene, watched as her son, Hoonah police officer Tony Wallace, and another officer, Matt Tokuoka, were shot late Saturday in front of the suspect's home. Greene was visiting from St. Petersburg, Fla.

Wallace died during surgery in Juneau, while Tokuoka died at a village clinic.

The suspect, 45-year-old John Marvin Jr., surrendered Monday morning following a standoff with authorities in the southeast Alaska community of 800. He is charged with two counts of first degree murder.

Court records show Marvin was accused of viciously attacking the same two officers after they responded to a call about an intruder last year. But all charges filed then against him were dismissed in December.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A man charged in the slayings of two police officers in a tiny Alaska village was accused of viciously attacking the same two officers while they were responding to a call about an intruder last year, court records show.

But assault and other charges filed against John Marvin Jr. in last year's alleged attack on Hoonah police officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka were dismissed in December.

The prosecutor assigned to the case declined Monday to say why the charges were dropped.

"Our office is reeling, and I'm not prepared to talk about it," said Amy Williams, an assistant district attorney. She added she doesn't want to risk jeopardizing the new case against Marvin.

Court documents allege both officers were injured in the August 2009 attack after they responded to a call from a woman who said Marvin entered her home without permission. The attack ended after the officers hit Marvin multiple times with their stun guns, and Wallace, a college wrestler, contained him in a "thigh lock," court records said.

The documents also note Marvin's "mental health issues."

Marvin, 45, is accused of shooting Wallace and Tokuoka on Saturday night, then barricading himself in his home in Hoonah, located on an island about 40 miles west of Juneau. The officers died sometime after the shootings, said Bob Prunella, acting Hoonah administrator.

Marvin surrendered Monday morning following a standoff with authorities.

A motive for the shootings has not been disclosed, and authorities have released few details.

During the standoff, troopers and other law enforcement agencies maintained their positions through the night into Monday, authorities said. Troopers had urged residents in the shoreline community of about 800 to stay away from the area.