Login | About Us | Contact Us | Search Connect With ODMP Facebook Twitter
ODMP Remembers...

Trooper Charles Henry Johnson | West Virginia State Police, West Virginia West Virginia State Police, West Virginia

Trooper

Charles Henry Johnson

West Virginia State Police, West Virginia

End of Watch: Wednesday, January 12, 1977

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 31

Tour: 5 years

Badge # U-379

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 1/12/1977

Weapon: Gun; Unknown type

Suspect: Committed suicide

· Leave a Reflection
· Add to My Heroes
· Update this memorial

Share this memorial:
Email to a Friend

Trooper Charles Johnson and Trooper Thomas Hercules were shot and killed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, while serving an arrest warrant on a burglary suspect. After the initial arrest the officers took the suspect to his home to allow him to collect some personal belongings. Trooper Hercules waited in the patrol car as Trooper Johnson took him inside.

While inside the suspect was able to gain control of Trooper Johnson's service weapon and shot him to death. The man then ran outside and exchanged shots with Trooper Hercules. The suspect then stole the patrol car and fled. He committed suicide three days later as officers closed in on his location.

Trooper Johnson had served with the West Virginia State Police for seven years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Leave a Reflection · Update Memorial

Related Line of Duty Deaths

Trooper First Class Thomas Dean Hercules
West Virginia State Police, West Virginia
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 12, 1977
Cause: Gunfire

View all 14 Reflections

Most Recent Reflection

I was 14yrs old boy when Larry Parker killed these 2 men. Larry Parker been arrested many times by these 2 officers and wanted to say goodbye to his wife Nellie before going to jail but she was not home so they decided to wait for her. Officer Hercules waited outside in patrol car and Officer Johnson and Larry Parker waited on couch together but then Larry got up to get something to drink from kitchen.He say his brothers Jerry Parker 30-30 deer hunting rifle in the corner and returned to living room with it.Officer Johnson stood up from the couch and was gunned down.Officer Hercules radioed shots fired call from patrol car then took off running toward the house.Larry Parker had already ran upstairs to bedroom window and shot Officer Hercules into hip area dropping him on sidewalk and and Officer Hercules crawled back to patrol car and radioed officer down call.Larry Parker then had ran up to the patrol car and got the drop on Officer Hercules who still was on radio and he pleaded for Larry not to kill him as he was a family man.Larry Parker killed him anyway and took off in patrol car down road closes to patomic river where the blacks lived with his son Frank Parker(my classmate) chasing the patrol car pleading with his dad to take him with him.Townfolk already knew Larry killed the 2 cops and Mr Kline who owned store closed it up but allowed me to come in back and get some candy.He locked up as he was afraid that Larry might rob him as he left town.Noone was on the street but me and Frank chasing a police car.I been to Larry Parker house before and was not afraid of him.Out of the blue heavy set woman from Church open her door and yelled at me Larry killed the cops get home right now so I got scared and Fled home.Officer Hercules was laid out in the street and after a while the male townfolks covered him with a sheet. Finally a helicoper showed up and more police officers to secure the crime scene.Rest I know is about rumors of him fleeing from the dogs and him finally driven back into town finally going to cave and killing himself when he was founded.

SDO McCulloh Jon B
Oklahoma County Jail
February 2, 2012

 

Create an account for more options, or use this form to leave a Reflection now:

(will show below Reflection)
(will show below Reflection)
(e-mail remains private)
Remember my rank, agency and email address
I have read and agree to the Reflections Terms of Use
(revised 5/31/2012)
 
All 2013 Deaths