Florida burglary suspect kills sheriff's deputy, self

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Police in Florida identified Jonathan Pine as the Orange County sheriff's deputy shot to death by a suspected burglar who authorities say then killed himself.

Pine, 34, a two-year member of the force, was responding to a report of multiple car break-ins when he was fatally wounded Monday night, sheriff's Capt. Angelo Nieves said. He encountered Benjamin Holtermann, 28, who matched the description of the suspect. Holtermann bolted on foot and Pine gave chase, WESH-TV, Orlando, reported.

Holtermann fired multiple shots at Pine, who was hit and never returned fire, police said. Deputies tracked Holtermann to a nearby residence where he was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Paramedics rushed Pine to nearby Orlando Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

"It's a sad day for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, our officer family and basically for law enforcement in general," Undersheriff Rey Rivero said. "As you know, we lost one of our own tonight."

Another suspect, Erica Pugh, 18, who was found in Holtermann's car and identified herself as his girlfriend, allegedly admitted the two had been responsible for a recent rash of car break-ins in the area.

She is facing grand theft of a motor vehicle and burglary charges.