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Middletown man indicted on first-degree murder charge in deputy's death

Marcus Isreal appeared for arraignment at the Lebanon Court House, Thursday, May 12, 2011. Isreal is accused of killing Warren County Sheriff's deputy Brian Dulle when he struck him with a stolen car during an early morning car chase, Tuesday, May 10.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Marcus Isreal appeared for arraignment at the Lebanon Court House, Thursday, May 12, 2011. Isreal is accused of killing Warren County Sheriff's deputy Brian Dulle when he struck him with a stolen car during an early morning car chase, Tuesday, May 10.

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 1:25 AM Saturday, May 14, 2011

LEBANON — A Middletown man accused of killing a Warren County Sheriff’s deputy during a high-speed police chase now faces a murder charge.

As officers remembered the fallen Sgt. Brian Dulle at the annual police memorial week observation across the county government campus, Marcus Anthony Isreal, 22, was indicted Friday by a Warren County grand jury on nine felony charges of: murder, a first-degree felony; involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; two counts of felonious assault; one count of aggravated vehicular homicide; one count of receiving stolen property; two counts of having a weapon under disability; and one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. Each carries a firearms specification.

Isreal could face 21 1/2 years to a maximum 37 1/2 years to life in prison, if convicted, said Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell.

“Our office looks forward in achieving justice for the Dulle family and law enforcement in Warren County,” Fornshell said.

Isreal initially was charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to comply, and was arraigned Thursday in Lebanon Municipal Court on those charges. The grand jury was able to indict on a murder charge because Dulle’s death occurred during the commission of another felony offense, Fornshell said. The felonious assault charges stem from two near misses of other sheriff’s cruisers before Dulle was struck, he said.

Fornshell said Isreal is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Warren County Common Pleas Court. He is jailed on $1 million bond.

“This has been weighing in on all of us,” said Sheriff Larry Sims. “You can see it in everyone’s faces ... It’s going to be tough today and tough tomorrow,” he said of Dulle’s visitation Friday evening and today’s funeral.

Investigators say Isreal had a handgun, and the car he was driving was stolen property, Fornshell said. The 2001 Cadillac was reported stolen from in front of the Take A Break Lounge in Middletown, according to a police report.

Fornshell said that no special prosecutor will be appointed in the case.

Isreal allegedly was driving the stolen Cadillac that was pursued in a high-speed chase early Tuesday by Franklin police across northern Warren County. Police were trying to stop Isreal, who allegedly was speeding and didn’t have working taillights.

Isreal ended up on U.S. 42 at Utica Road, where he allegedly struck Dulle while traveling more than 100 mph as the officer was outside his nearby cruiser deploying a tire deflation device.

After hitting Dulle and the deputy’s cruiser, Isreal allegedly fled on foot, spurring a four-hour manhunt. Authorities found Isreal walking on a road about a mile away from the crash site.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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