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Sunbury police credit Detective Smith after multi-state pursuit yields confession in 2023 SWAT case
Summary
Chief Howard reported that Detective Smith, with FBI assistance, located and interviewed a juvenile suspect in California tied to an August 2023 SWAT incident; the suspect allegedly confessed to multiple incidents and additional suspects are being investigated.
Sunbury Police Chief Howard updated the council on Jan. 29 that Detective Smith, with assistance from the FBI and other agencies, traveled to California and interviewed a juvenile suspect linked to the August 2023 SWAT incident. The chief said the suspect provided a confession to that case and implicated involvement in other incidents.
“Detective Smith was relentless,” Chief Howard told the council, describing multiagency cooperation and outreach that led to locating the juvenile. The chief said the suspect is 17 and will soon turn 18; prosecutors have agreed to pursue charges despite the suspect’s juvenile status. Howard said the FBI and others praised the detective and Sunbury’s handling of the investigation.
Howard said the investigation has identified additional suspects and that work continues to determine who directed or paid the juvenile to commit acts in Sunbury. Council members thanked Detective Smith and the broader law enforcement partnership; one council member observed the case may receive broader publicity when prosecution moves forward.
Chief Howard cautioned some details remain sensitive because the suspect is a juvenile and because the investigation is ongoing. He said his office is coordinating with surrounding agencies and the prosecutor’s office to notify additional victims and finalize charges.
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