Saudi- Trooper ambush suspect in court after long manhunt

(MENAFN- Arab News) MILFORD Pennsylvania: Onlookers shouted 'Are you sorry' and 'Why did you do it' as state troopers led a suspect in a fatal police barracks ambush from his first court appearance following a seven-week manhunt.

Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin says Eric Frein's capture and preliminary arraignment Friday brought some comfort to the region after an 'unimaginable loss of unspeakable proportions.' State police say troopers have been interviewing the 31-year-old survivalist but won't disclose details of what he's said or a possible motive.

Frein is charged with killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and critically wounding Trooper Alex Douglass on Sept. 12.

Authorities captured Frein on Thursday near an abandoned airplane hangar ending a 48-day search.

State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens says the search has cost about $10 million.

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Eric Frein who meekly gave himself up when surrounded Thursday authorities said.

'He did not just give up because he was tired' state police Commissioner Frank Noonan said. 'He gave up because he was caught.' State police said they didn't know whether Frein who was unarmed when captured had been using the hangar as a shelter during his 48 days on the run and they wouldn't say what they found there.

Frein was held in the handcuffs of the trooper he's accused of killing Gov. Tom Corbett said Thursday at a nighttime news conference.

The quiet takedown of Frein who kneeled and put his hands up when marshals approached him ended weeks of tension and turmoil in the area as authorities at times closed schools canceled outdoor events and blockaded roads to pursue him. Residents grew weary of hearing helicopters overhead while small businesses suffered mounting losses and town supervisors canceled a popular Halloween parade.

Frein is charged with opening fire outside the Blooming Grove barracks on Sept. 12 killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and seriously wounding Trooper Alex Douglass. After his arrest Thursday near the abandoned hangar he was placed in Dickson's car for the ride back to the barracks about 30 miles (48 km) away.

Douglass and his family and Dickson's family expressed 'relief and gratitude' over Frein's arrest Noonan said.

Police said they linked Frein to the ambush after a man walking his dog discovered his partly submerged SUV three days later in a swamp a few miles from the shooting scene. Inside investigators found shell casings matching those found at the barracks as well as Frein's driver's license camouflage face paint two empty rifle cases and military gear.

Officials saying Frein was armed and extremely dangerous had urged residents to be alert and cautious. Using dogs thermal imaging technology and other tools law enforcement officials combed miles of forest as they hunted for Frein whom they called an experienced survivalist at home in the woods.