Fire/Rescue News - EHC gathering turns deadly

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Police found Thomas and Travis in the courtyard of the complex bleeding from gunshot wounds, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

At least a dozen police cars, including from neighboring Galloway and Mullica townships, responded to the scene, and the parking lots were blocked with yellow police tape. Several officers stood watch carrying assault rifles.

Thomas was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, the Prosecutor's Office said, while officials from AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City said Travis was still in critical condition Wednesday.

Madelaine Vitale, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, said a preliminary autopsy on Thomas was conducted Tuesday afternoon but that information on the manner of death is still pending.

First Assistant Prosecutor Murray Talasnik said in a release Tuesday that officials from the Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and the Egg Harbor City Police Department were still searching for a suspect or suspects in the shootings.

Roughly 13 hours after the incident, police said they arrested three men - including relatives of Thomas and Travis - on charges of obstruction of the administration of law and resisting arrest. Official reports on the arrests were not available Tuesday.

Capt. Rick Kramer said police had been searching for three men in order to prevent possible retaliation for Monday night's shooting.

"These are arrests made by Egg Harbor City in the aftermath and not part of the homicide investigation," Talasnik said.

Dozens of people who claimed to have witnessed the arrests in the parking lot of the Philadelphia Village Apartment Complex on Buffalo Avenue said officers used excessive force.

"They were on their knees with their hands on their head, just like they were told to, when (an Egg Harbor City police officer) ran up and kneed them in the back and then sprayed Mace in their faces when they were already on the ground," said Richard Collier, a cousin of Thomas and Travis. "If that's not police brutality I don't know what is."

City resident Ebony Alexander said she took her husband, Narayan, to the hospital after he was released from police custody because his back was injured during the arrest. She said her husband must also go for an MRI.

Narayan Alexander told The Press of Atlantic City that he was already in handcuffs when he was "sprayed with Mace and kicked to the ground."

"This is how they let us grieve?" said Ebony Alexander of the arrests and the noticeable police and K-9 presence at vigil held in Thomas' honor at the Harbor City Apartments on Tuesday night.

Narayan Alexander and Toby Collier, who was also arrested, denied they were out looking for retaliation when they were stopped by police.

"How dumb would it be for us to drive around with a gun in broad daylight and cops all over the place, looking for retaliation?" asked Toby Collier, who said they were unarmed at the time. "We don't know nothing about who did this. How are we going to retaliate?"

Mel Williams, a representative from the Mizpah branch of the NAACP, said that organization is planning to investigate the incident.

"You cannot let yourselves be mistreated," Williams told those still in attendance after police left the scene. "You have to have your voices heard."

Kramer confirmed that a chemical agent was used during the arrest, but said no one was kicked to the ground.

"The three people arrested in the Village were processed and released on summonses," Kramer said. "Nobody was injured, nobody complained of any injuries, nobody needed any medical attention and there were no complaints filed to us by any of the people brought in for obstruction.

"One guy even thanked the police for being courteous and professional, because he said he had been uncooperative with us earlier," Kramer said.

Mayor Joseph Kuehner called the accusations of police brutality "unfortunate."

"As of right now, I do not know of any formal complaints against our officers who, from what I was told, were doing everything they could to calm the situation," Kuehner said. "But if there is anyone that feels excessive force was used, I encourage them to file a complaint."

Meanwhile, family and friends continued to gather at both apartment complexes throughout the day to pay respect to Thomas and Travis.

Collier said Travis is a father of three young children who has worked for a local tent-rental company for the last three or four years.

"He's a true working man," Collier said. "Working hard to make a living the right way."

Thomas' mother, Darlene Travis, said her son was finally "doing good" after having several brushes with the law in his life.

"Sandy was expecting his third baby any day. He was so excited that it was going to be a boy," said Darlene Travis, adding Thomas also leaves behind two daughters, ages 8 and 5. "He was getting things together and doing really good … because being a father was important to him."

Thomas' run-ins with the law ranged from possession of cocaine in 1998 to parole violations in 2000 to resisting arrest and crashing into a marked patrol car in 2003 while attempting to elude officers trying to arrest him on outstanding warrants. After the 2003 arrest he was sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison, according to the state's Department of Corrections Web site.

Family and friends said they will choose to remember Thomas as a man loved throughout the community, particularly by children.

"He was the salt of the earth," said Thomas' aunt, Doris Collier. "The kids were so upset today, they didn't go to school."

"He wasn't perfect. Nobody is," said Thomas' aunt, Linda Collier. "But he was a great person who was loved and will be missed."

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666 or visit the Web site www.acpo.org/tips.html. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 800-658-8477.

Staff writers Dan Good, Eric Scott Campbell and Elaine Rose contributed to this report.

E-mail Robert Spahr: RSpahr@pressofac.com