Z
Florida Man Claimed He Was Canadian Before Fatally Shooting
Wed Dec 31 19:25:07 2003
213.122.155.151

Florida Man Claimed He Was Canadian Before Fatally Shooting British Cop

Summary from news sources

Leeds - Northern England, Dec 28, 2003. Police have named the man wanted in connection with the shooting to death of Police Officer Ian Broadhurst in the city on Dec 26th, as Nathan Wayne Coleman.

Det. Supt. Chris Gregg of West Yorkshire Police said Coleman, 37, who is from the United States but has been living in England for about four years, is "someone we need to speak to as a matter of urgency."

Police Constable Ian Broadhurst, 34, and colleague Neil Roper, 45, noticed a BMW parked on a pavement outside a betting shop. A check on the car indicated it was displaying false number plates. Its male occupant, who was reading a racing paper when approached, reluctantly agreed to go to the police car where he was told the BMW was suspected to be stolen.

Speaking at a news conference, DS. Gregg said the man spoke softly, in a calm manner and with a North American accent..The two policemen felt uneasy about the olive skinned and heavily built man and radioed for assistance as they questioned him in the back of the police car. A recording device was also secretly activated.

The suspect denied that the car was stolen and calmly asked about how long it would take when he was told he was going to be taken to a police station.

The police officers were uncertain as to whether the man's north American accent was genuine and asked him about where he was born. His response was,
"Canada".

The call for assistance was answered by PC Banks. When he arrived, the two other officers went back to the patrol car.

PC Roper was leaning into the car to handcuff the suspect when a shot rang out and struck PC Broadhurst who was standing behind him. Roper and Banks ran for cover as four more shots were fired. Two rounds hit Roper, severely injuring him. The third officer had a miraculous escape when a bullet hit his radio and ricocheted off his baton. As is routine in the United Kingdom, the officers were not carrying firearms.

The suspect then hijacked a civilian car at gunpoint and escaped.

DS Gregg, stressed, "This man is exceptionally dangerous. His voice and manner were calm and cool under what, for him, would be potentially extreme pressure. The manner in which this murder was committed was cold and calculating."

He added, "The shots were fired with some precision. He may have some experience of firearms. Each found its intended target.

"James and Neil are fortunate to have survived. It could have been three officers killed."
.
The hijacked car was found abandoned outside what turned out to be Nathan Wayne Coleman's flat.

Police revealed they had found "certain items" in the flat with the result that they were now extremely interested in apprehending Coleman.

"At the moment we are trying to build up as much information as possible as to the background of Mr Coleman."

They said Coleman had no criminal record in the UK and American authorities say there appears to be no record of federal or Florida state offences.

According to a BBC report, Coleman is from the Fort Lauderdale area. He had been married to a woman and living with her in Yorkshire but they had subsequently divorced.

Police declined to speculate about a possible connection to terrorist activities, a question prompted by the current elevated threat level.

Dec 31, 2003.

The suspect, believed to be Natahan Wayne Coleman, has now been arrested.