In the pre-dawn hours of August 15, 1997, a male Allen County Sheriff's Department officer, 27-year-old Eryk Todd Heck, was fatally shot while investigating a burglary in a rural area of the county. The events unfolded at approximately 1:30 a.m. when Officer Heck and his partner discovered a truck parked on an abandoned railroad right-of-way near Till Road, about a mile from the reported burglary.
As the officers were observing the vehicle, a male suspect appeared. When Officer Heck's partner approached the man to question him, the suspect immediately opened fire, striking the officer in the arm and causing him to fall to the ground. In a heroic act, Officer Heck positioned himself in front of his wounded colleague and returned fire.
During the exchange of gunfire, Officer Heck was struck in the neck, leg, and jaw. Despite his severe injuries, he was able to shoot and kill the suspect before he collapsed. Officer Heck succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. He had served with the Allen County Sheriff's Department for five years.
