Hillsdale County deputy killed in line of duty identified

(WSYM) – A Hillsdale County sheriff’s deputy was initiating a traffic stop when he was fatally shot in Jefferson Township on Thursday, the sheriff said.

According to Hillsdale County Sheriff Scott Hodshire, 51-year-old William Butler Jr. was the deputy who was killed in the line of duty.

According to the sheriff, a Hillsdale County deputy sergeant responded to a call near Beecher and Lamb roads around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

According to police, the detective sergeant pulled over a car and noticed the driver had valid warrants. The deputy sergeant stopped the car. Deputy William Butler heard the call for help and went to the scene of the accident.

The passenger in the car refused to give his name or any other information. However, after further investigation, the deputy sergeant identified the passenger as 34-year-old Eric Fiddler of Jonesville.

MSP

There were also arrest warrants against Fiddler.

According to police, officers attempted to arrest Fiddler, which led to a struggle. The deputy sergeant pulled out a taser to subdue Fiddler, but was unsuccessful.

Fiddler pulled a gun from his waistband, shot Deputy Butler, and then ran from the scene.

The sheriff said a nearby deputy heard the report of the shooting, drove to the scene and took Butler to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hillsdale County Sheriff’s deputy and suspect dead after officer-involved shooting
Michigan State Police tracked Fiddler around 6:15 p.m. in a field about two miles from the original crime scene near Culbert and Osseo roads

MSP said Fiddle opened fire on police, and officers returned fire, killing Fiddler.

Shooting involving a police officer in Hillsdale County

According to Hodshire, Butler was a great police officer and veteran of the armed forces.

Hodshire asks the public not to think about the Butler family in the coming weeks.

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