Slain North Dakota Deputy Identified

BELCOURT, North Dakota -- A 29-year-old sheriff's deputy was killed in a shootout with a suspected car thief, who also died, in northern North Dakota on Wednesday night, according to the Rolette County sheriff's office.

Deputy Colt Allery, who had been with the Rolette County Sheriff's department for three months, died at a rural intersection along with the suspect, who law enforcement officers have not yet identified.

A male suspect in a stolen pickup lead four law enforcement officers on an approximately 15-mile chase reaching 85 miles per hour after a vehicle was reported stolen in Devil's Lake at about 6:10 p.m. Wednesday.

Operators of an OnStar vehicle tracking system told law enforcement that the vehicle was headed into neighboring Rolette County, according to the sheriff's office. Onstar trackers slowed the vehicle down to approximately five miles per hour. A shootout then began when officers caught up to it at an intersection.

Though three other law enforcement officers were involved in the shootout, none of the others were hurt.

Allery had been a law enforcement officer for approximately three years, at once point holding a position with tribal police.

Rolette County Sheriff Gerald Medrud described Allery as "a young deputy that was full of spunk" who was "cheerful and happy all the time."

The state Bureau of Criminal Investgation is investigating.

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