Lieutenant Glenn Harold Hicks
Avery County Sheriff's Office
North Carolina
End of Watch: Thursday, February 20, 2003

Biographical Info
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 116

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, February 20, 2003
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Found incompetent to stand trial

Lieutenant Hicks was shot and killed as he and his partner responded to a 911 call about a disturbance created by a mentally disturbed suspect at 1510 hours.

The suspect heard the call on his police scanner and setup an ambush from inside his house. As the two deputies got out of their patrol car, the suspect ambushed them using a shotgun. The suspect first shot Lieutenant Hicks' partner in the face with bird shot. As Lieutenant Hicks came to his partner's aid he was shot in the face with .00 buckshot and killed instantly. His partner attempted to make it back to the patrol car, but was shot again in the back with .00 buckshot. He was able to crawl to the patrol car and called for assistance.

The suspect fled to a nearby cave and remained there for several hours during negotiations. He was taken into custody after a flash-bang was used to disorient him. Only several weeks before, all of the suspect's guns were confiscated due to a complaint from his family about his mental stability. The guns were returned several days before the shooting on a court order because the family refused to testify against him.

On July 22, 2005, the suspect was found incompetent to stand trial.

Lieutenant Hicks had been a reserve deputy for the Avery County Sheriff's Office for 5 years, and had been a full-time deputy for 3 years. Lieutenant Hicks' badge number was retired in his honor.

In February, 2004, the Department of Transportation approved naming a bridge on NC Highway 194 after Lieutenant Hicks and in 2008 the town of Newland renamed a street approaching the county courthouse Glenn Hicks Lane in his honor.

He is survived by his wife, son, sister, two brothers, and three grandchildren. Lieutenant Hicks's son and a brother also serve with the Avery County Sheriff's Office.