Officer faces new charge in colleague's shooting

10/26/2010

A Toledo police sergeant recently indicted for the shooting of a fellow officer will face a gun specification on the charge.

Sgt. Gloria Burks was indicted last week with assault and felonious assault. A corrected indictment was issued by the Lucas County grand jury Friday adding a gun specification to the felonious assault charge.

If convicted, Sergeant Burks faces up to 11 years in prison. She is to be arraigned Nov. 4 before Judge Charles Doneghy.

Sergeant Burks was charged for the Sept. 20 shooting at Scott Park District Station in which Sgt. Jeffrey Bechtel was struck by a bullet that pierced his right arm near the shoulder.

John Weglian, chief of the special units division of the prosecutor's office, said an administrative error omitted the gun specification from the indictment. The case was presented to the grand jury again the next day. The original indictment will be dismissed when Sergeant Burks appears in court, Mr. Weglian said.