One suspect is in custody and police are looking for another man considered armed and dangerous after a Deputy Sheriff Brandy Lyn Winfield was shot and killed south of Marion. Officials warn that the suspect should not be approached because he is believed to be carrying a weapon. He is wanted in connection with the death of Dep. Brandy Lyn Winfield, 29, who was found shot the the head still sitting in his cruiser on Ohio 423 just north of Waldo.

Following a 3:59 a.m. cell phone call from a passerby about a stopped vehicle, Winfield responded to Ohio 423 south of Benzler-Lust Road six miles outside of Marion to check out a white 1993 Chevrolet van that was stopped and abandoned on the road. Winfield determined, with help from dispatchers, that two males had just left the Duke gas station located a few miles south of the van in Waldo. Then, at about 4:43 a.m., Winfield called in two men walking along the road and he stopped them and called in their personal information. That was the last they heard from the Deputy, When officials from the Sheriff’s Office and the Marion City Police Department went looking
for Winfield, they found his cruiser up side

down in a ravine south of where the van was stopped at 5:03 a.m. He had been shot and was still in the cruiser. Stofcheck Ambulance Service took him to Marion General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect’s apprehension followed a statewide alert for the white Chevrolet van, at he Ohio State Highway Patrol Marion Post, Delaware Police Department and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in addition to ODOT, the Sheriff’s Office and the police department.

Agency Information:
Marion County Sheriff's Department
889 Marion Williamsport Rd E
Marion, OH 43302
Phone: 740-382-8244

Winfield was a six-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office road patrol.
He is survived by his wife Sara and two children. His father and brother are officers with the
Marion police department. Brandon Winfield is shown (right) with his 3-year-old son, Landon

Pallbearers remove Brandy Lyn Winfield's flag-draped coffin Monday from a hearse as they prepare to take the Marion County deputy to Marion Cemetery.

The procession of law-enforcement vehicles for Winfield makes its way along Prospect Street underneath a large American flag held by ladder trucks from the Marion City and Marion Township fire departments

The man accused of the murder of a local deputy pleaded
not guilty to additional charges at the Marion County Common Pleas Court. Common Pleas Judge Robert Davidson said the not guilty plea Juan Carlos Cruz, 20, of Delaware, made is typical for an arraignment. At the proceeding, Cruz's jury trial was moved from Jan. 10 to
April 15.






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"The best die young" I have never figured out why this is so true. I pray for those who knew Deputy Sheriff Brandy Lyn Winfield. I pray for everyone who has lost a mother, father, brother, sister or any other loved ones who protect US ALL. I HONORED Deputy Sheriff Winfield by giving him a final salute, and that is how you honor someone that prayed with their life to help another.

Jordan Hickle, Civil Air Patrol aka U.S Airforce Auxiliary
marineboy09538@yahoo.com

Date: 06/01/2005
Time: 11:01 PM


God Bless and Rest in Peace Deputy Sheriff Brandy Lyn Winfield. My prayers are with the family.

Donald C. Leffler
Former Officer of Crestline Police Department, OH
donaldleffler@yahoo.com

Date: 03/02/2005
Time: 01:16 PM


My family and Department sends their condolences to the Brady Lyn Winifield family and to the Marion Co. Sheriff's Office. May God be with you all at this difficult time.

Cleveland Metro health Police Department, OH
Police Officer,  Scott L. Dillon
MHP242@aol.com

Date: 10/20/2004
Time: 10:46 AM

Our prayers are with the family and Department.

Lapeer County Sheriff's Office, MI
Deputy Sheriff, Tom - Ann Noble
anoble11@comcast.net

Date: 10/16/2004
Time: 12:20 AM

I'll pray for him. My prayers are with his wife and kids, his brother and the rest of the family.

Police Officer, Juan Porta
HAZODI, BEL
portajuan@hotmail.com

Date: 10/15/2004
Time: 02:29 AM

Walk tall, walk tall and protect us from above with honor and dignity. May you lead the charge for
citizens right in heaven as you did here on earth

Darrell Thompson
Privet Security Officer St. Clair Co. MI,
Community College Campus Patrol #14
darrell@policespecial.com
www.sc4.edu

Rest in peace, and may God allow him to keep watch over us on earth while he patrols his beat
in heaven. Our prayers go out to the Officer and his Department and family. May they all find peace in their hearts soon.

From all the Staff at Police Special Inc.