Written by: Matt Bunk
A Burleigh County Sheriff’s deputy died Wednesday morning after assisting with the arrest of a DUI suspect who is accused of leading officers on a vehicle chase and then threatening them with his fists.
Deputy Bryan Keith Sleeper, 39, was transported by ambulance to St. Alexius Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just before 1 a.m. An autopsy showed he died of natural causes.
Sheriff Pat Heinert said Sleeper suffered a heart attack while trying to subdue 46-year-old suspect Robbie Del James Roberson, who has been charged with a variety of crimes including terrorizing, preventing arrest, DUI, fleeing in a motor vehicle, speeding and driving without a license.
Sleeper began his law enforcement career with the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department in 2007 and served as the department’s medical training officer. He was also a member of the West Dakota SWAT Team. Prior to joining the sheriff’s department, Sleeper had served as a correctional officer for the North Dakota Department of Corrections.
Heinert described Sleeper as energetic and ambitious. Heinert also said Sleeper passed a physical earlier this year and appeared to be in good health.
“I can’t quit shaking right now,” Heinert said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
The incident began shortly after midnight when Deputy Jon Eide attempted to stop a 1987 Honda Civic driven by Roberson. The suspect’s vehicle continued into the Lincoln Meadows Trailer Park and finally stopped near Roberson’s residence. Sleeper had arrived on the scene to assist Eide with the traffic stop.
When Roberson exited the vehicle, he became confrontational with the two deputies, according to the sheriff’s department. A report distributed by the department noted that Roberson was verbally and physically “non-compliant” and persisted to yell and approach deputies in an aggressive manner with closed fists.
Eide deployed his electronic control device, a Taser, but Roberson continued to resist as the deputies tried to handcuff him. After a second electronic charge, Sleeper was able to subdue and handcuff Roberson.
At that point, Sleeper began to experience distress and collapsed. Eide responded by administering first aid until ambulances and other officers arrived on the scene. Within minutes, Sleeper was pronounced dead.
Sleeper is survived by his wife, two step-sons, a step-daughter and a grandson.
It was the second line-of-duty death in the history of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy George Piepkorn was killed when he was stabbed while trying to arrest a suspect during a domestic dispute on Nov. 19, 1930, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Fifty-one North Dakota law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in the state’s history. It was the second line-of-duty death in North Dakota this year. Bismarck Police Sgt. Steve Kenner was shot and killed July 8 while responding to a domestic disturbance.
Heinert said he believes his department’s jurisdiction has become a more dangerous place for law enforcement officers in recent years.
This entry was posted in Bismarck News, NEWS CATEGORIES, Slideshow and tagged Burleigh County Sheriff's Department, deputy dies, line of duty. Bookmark the permalink.Pingback: Deputy Sheriff Bryan Sleeper Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department, North Dakota EoW: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 « The Munz ~~ Remembering the fallen
My condolences to sleeper family
North & South Dakota have experienced an unprecidented number of line of duty deaths this year. The Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff is the fifth line of duty death in the last three months!
Please join with us in sending our condolences to the family and peers of the Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff. http://www.honoringheroes.com/2011/09/north-dakota-line-of-duty-death-burleigh-county-deputy-sheriff/