Police: Retired trooper killed 2 at turnpike interchange

http://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2016/03/20/police-investigate-fort-littletown-turnpike-exit-incident/82046734/

FT. LITTLETON - A retired Pennsylvania State Police trooper shot and killed two people at a Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange early Sunday morning, and soon after was fatally shot by police as they exchanged gunfire as he attempted to steal money from an armored vehicle.Police said Clarence Briggs, 55, of Newville, killed Danny Crouse, 55, and Ronald Heist, 71, at the Fort Littleton interchange.Crouse was a turnpike employee who had been on the job just three months, and Heist was employed by Schaad Detective Agency, a turnpike contractor, authorities said. Heist was also a retired York City police officer.Briggs was killed soon after shooting Crouse and Heist, while exchanging gunfire with police who responded to the scene.



Retired trooper owed more than $300,000

HARRISBURG -- The retired Pennsylvania state trooper who was killed while robbing an armored car early Sunday at the Fort Littleton interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was nearly $315,000 in debt.Clarence Briggs and his wife, Donna, of Newville filed for bankruptcy a year ago. They listed debts of nearly $314,000 and assets of less than $234,000.

Bankruptcy court in November set a repayment schedule for a much lesser amount. A month ago Donan Briggs succeeded in separating herself from the bankruptcy.Police said that Clarence Briggs, 55, shot and killed Turnpike employee Danny Crouse, 55, and retired York City police officer, Ronald Heist. Heist, 71, worked for Schaad Detective Agency. Briggs was killed in a shootout with state police troopers.Five firearms are listed among the assets in the court documents – a Marlin 1894, Remington 7600P, Ruger Blackhawk, Mossberg 535 and Remington 870 Police Custom.Briggs had worked for more than two years as a range master for IWI US Inc. in Harrisburg, according to his bankruptcy filing. IWI develops and sells small arms for law enforcement and armies around the world.

Clarence Briggs retired in January 2012 after 26 years as a state trooper. He spent most of his career at the Newville barracks.The bankruptcy documents indicate that as of March 2015 Donna Briggs had worked for six months as an admissions specialist with Hospice of Central Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.Clarence and Donna Briggs had credit card debt of nearly $77,000, according to their Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing with the Pennsylvania Middle District Bankruptcy Court on March 9, 2015.

Their $196,000 home near Newville was tied to a secured debt of $179,358 to Quicken Loans. They owed $2,591 in 2013 federal taxes, $13,498 on a personal loan and $18,200 on two student loans.Chapter 13 allows a people with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts.At the time of their bankruptcy filing, the couple reported a monthly income of $8,721, half of it from Briggs’ state pension. After taxes, the couple netted $4,300 a month from his pension, $1,936 from Clarence’s wages and $2,485 from Donna’s wages. They had living expenses of $5,373 a month.

A debt payment settlement was worked out in November. The couple was to continue making mortgage payments on their home and monthly payments on their 2010 Lexus and 2004 BMW. They also were to make monthly payments of $1,121 to a court trustee through March 2020 for the unsecured creditors. The settlement reduced the couple’s total unsecured debt to $68,935.In November the court allowed Donna to sever herself from the Chapter 13 proceeding, according to court documents. She took a finanical management class. She was allowed to proceed under Chapter 7 bankruptcy where assets can be sold to satisfy creditors. On Feb. 24 she was granted a discharge from most debts in the Chapter 13 filing.