Officer,bank suspects die in I-96 chase

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A Walker police officer was run over and killed as he attempted to stop armed bank robbers during a chase along I-96. The suspects later died in a gun battle with police.

The incident began with a bank robbery at the ChoiceOne branch at 3069 Slocum Road in Ravenna. The robbery was witnessed by a customer in the bank's drive-through, who saw a gun and called 911. The bandits fled in one car, then used a second getaway car soon after.

The suspects had long guns, but the caliber was not revealed.

The chase lasted about 20 minutes and covered three counties. During the chase, the suspects fired multiple shots at the pursuing officers, and hit more than one police car, but no officers.

Officer Trevor Slot, a court officer for the Walker Police Department, headed to the 8th Avenue exit ramp off westbound I-96 and tried to deploy his stop sticks. Before he could, though, Slot was run over by the suspects' vehicle, an act police believe was intentional.

The nine-year veteran officer died at the scene.

But the impact forced their car off the road, and they got out firing. A gun battle ensued, and both suspects died at the scene.

State police investigators told 24 Hour News 8 that the suspects killed on Thursday may have been the same men who robbed the Chemical Bank in Moline on June 24 and again on Sept. 12. The method of all three robberies was similar.

All three robberies shared similar factors: The suspects wore dark clothes and masks and carried a long gun, the robberies occurred about 10:30 in the morning, and the banks were located on the outskirts of rural towns.

Michigan Chief Inspector Dave Roseler said that at least one civilian vehicle -- a truck -- was struck by one of the suspects' bullets in its gas tank.

In a statement, Northview Schools said, "The Northview Public Schools family is deeply saddened by the death of Officer Slot. His wife, Kim, teaches for us at Crossroads Middle School. Our prayers are with the family. We have activated our district crisis team which will be available for students and staff."

Slot was 41 and the father of two daughters, said Walker Police Chief Catherine Garcia-Lindstrom.

Michigan State Police will be conducting the investigation into the incident.

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Westbound I-96 is back open to regular traffic near 8th Avenue.

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Remembering Officer Slot