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William Maroon

Police Officer Roy Maroon of the Tonopah Police Department

TONOPAH TIMES-BONANZA

July 4, 1952

THE DETAILS – Maroon Slaying, Flight, Capture

Based on Roy Mike’s confession and other evidence, here is how authorities have pieced together incidents leading to the fatal shooting of Tonopah Police Officer and Deputy Sheriff William Maroon, and the killer’s subsequent flight and apprehension:

Between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Maroon entered the cell block at the county jail to feed Mike. As the officer placed the food on the table, Mike who had been lurking in an unlocked rear cell, started past him, asserting that he was “going downtown and then home.” Maroon followed quickly and seized the Indian, precipitating a scuffle that led into another section of the jail corridor. At this point, Maroon discharged his tear gas gun, a sharp, pencil-like object, at Mike’s throat.

The enraged Indian tore the weapon from the older man and began stabbing him with it, inflicting bloody but superficial wounds on the back of his neck. Mike then dropped the weapon, forced Maroon against the bars and beat him unmercifully, finally knocking him to the floor where a large pool of blood formed.

The prisoner then secured Maroon’s gun, which was in a holster inside his shirt, and ran out the cell block into the sheriff’s office, obtaining the keys to the jail from the various locks as he fled…

Maroon meanwhile had staggered to his feet, and made his way into the main downstairs court house corridor… Not waiting for aid to arrive, Maroon ran around the front of the building where, unarmed, he confronted the crazed Paiute. The latter was having difficulty starting the vehicle. Maroon came toward him, calling upon him to surrender.

The Indian hesitated an instant. Then as Maroon drew within an estimated three or four feet of him, Mike picked up the gun lying at his side and shot the officer through the abdomen.

Fatally wounded, Maroon pitched face forward a few feet from the outside door to the sheriff’s office. Dr. Russell A. Joy said later that the bullet had penetrated the upper abdomen, causing almost instant death.

Mike, probing for the starter button, had touched off the siren. He started the car quite by accident, he said, when it began rolling downhill. The momentum turned over the engine when he engaged the clutch, and the fleeing Indian headed south at breakneck speed.

A posse was quickly organized led by Chief Lydon and State Highway Patrolman David Banovich, but they were unable to overtake the fugitive… At Beatty, Constable Bob Revert rounded up a crew of deputies…Setting up a road block…Within a short time Mike sped past…a hail of gunfire that riddled the car in many places as it passed.

Miraculously, Mike sustained only minor wounds in the right hand and right shoulder, and he raced on unchecked toward Beatty… The sirens of both cars were screaming madly as the vehicles careened through Beatty, with the deputies withholding fire for fear of hitting the throngs of spectators who lined the streets. Mike skidded around the turn in front of the Exchange bar and continued his wild flight. But the deputies’ shots were beginning to take effect…and the pursuing car began overtaking its quarry… Gradually he swung the ponderous vehicle toward the side of the road. Mike had no choice… He emerged from the damaged vehicle, hands upraised in surrender. The gun was later found with one cartridge discharged.

 

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 9 Row F     View The Plaque