01-05-2011, 07:32 PM
1/5/11 RAINIER, Ore. – Rainier's chief of police died Wednesday following an exchange of gunfire in Rainier, a small Oregon town along the Columbia River.
A press release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Department confirmed the death of the officer but did not originally identify him. We have now confirmed that the officer who died was Ralph Painter, Rainier's chief of police and a former DARE officer and Rainier Councilman. He graduated from St. Helens High School in1974 and attended Clackamas County Community College.
The shooting suspect, who was wounded and taken a hospital, has been identified as Daniel Armaugh Butts. He was reportedly wearing a non-issued Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5 sweatshirt at the time of the shooting. However, the Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5 in Kalama says Butts "has never been associated with or had dealings with Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5."
The Columbia Country Sheriff, Jeff Dickerson, said in an emotional news conference near the scene of the shooting that the officer's family has been notified and that the officer was married and had children. We now know that he had six adult children, ages 29 to 38, from a previous marriage. A woman who works nearby tells us he also has a 7-year-old son from his current marriage.
A press release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Department confirmed the death of the officer but did not originally identify him. We have now confirmed that the officer who died was Ralph Painter, Rainier's chief of police and a former DARE officer and Rainier Councilman. He graduated from St. Helens High School in1974 and attended Clackamas County Community College.
The shooting suspect, who was wounded and taken a hospital, has been identified as Daniel Armaugh Butts. He was reportedly wearing a non-issued Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5 sweatshirt at the time of the shooting. However, the Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5 in Kalama says Butts "has never been associated with or had dealings with Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5."
The Columbia Country Sheriff, Jeff Dickerson, said in an emotional news conference near the scene of the shooting that the officer's family has been notified and that the officer was married and had children. We now know that he had six adult children, ages 29 to 38, from a previous marriage. A woman who works nearby tells us he also has a 7-year-old son from his current marriage.