Suspect In Fatal Deputy Shooting Caught

Convicted Robber Suspected Of Killing Elderly Officer Arrested In Florida

(AP)  An elderly sheriff's deputy was fatally shot as he transported a convicted robber to court Wednesday, and authorities captured the convict after a manhunt and said he was found with the deputy's gun.

Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said Michael Mazza - already serving a life sentence for armed robbery - may have had accomplices who ambushed 76-year-old Paul Rein as he drove Mazza to court for his trial on a separate robbery.

Mazza, 40, was arrested at a Hollywood pawn shop shortly after noon, about four hours after Rein was found shot and bleeding in a parking lot, Lamberti said.

The two were alone but separated by a partition in a medical van, and Mazza was wearing handcuffs, authorities said.

Mazza, dressed in a suit and tie for court, was being transported in the medical van because he had complained of a bad back. Lamberti said it was a routine transport, done “hundreds of times a day.”

The van was later found empty 20 miles away in a Fort Lauderdale restaurant parking lot.

Traffic backed up for miles and schools were placed on lockdown as authorities launched a manhunt after the shooting. Investigators still were trying to figure out his steps, but a man who refused to give his last name said he met Mazza at another pawn shop, and Mazza asked him for a ride.

Mazza wasn't wearing handcuffs, said his name was Tony and said he didn't care where they went, the man said.

“He said he just had an argument with his wife, and he left from up state,” said the man, who gave his name only as Mark. “He was sitting down at a store, all exhausted and everything ... and his leg was messed up, hurting.”

They went to a soup kitchen and got something to eat, the man said, and then to the Hollywood pawn shop. Mazza stayed in the car, and when the man went inside, he saw Mazza's picture on television and realized his passenger was a fugitive.

“I freaked out,” he said.

He and the manager called 911, and police arrived.

Mazza was on trial in connection with a Feb. 28 bank robbery. After robbing a Bank of America in Coral Springs, Mazza led police on a short chase before he crashed his car into another vehicle, injuring himself and two others, authorities said.

Mazza's attorney, Maurice Graham, requested a mistrial Wednesday morning in court, where he and prosecutors listened to radio updates about the search for Mazza. Graham did not immediately return a phone message or e-mail from The Associated Press.

A person who identified herself as a relative of Rein's declined to comment when reached at his home. Authorities said he spoke to his wife by phone 10 minutes before he was shot.

Rein's ex-wife, Mollie Meyers, described him as a 5-foot 7-inch “little strong guy” who retired from the U.S. Postal Service at age 55 and began a second career in the sheriff's department.

She said she and Rein split up seven years to the day he was killed, and both remarried after being wed for 49 years. They had two grown sons, one of whom recently retired as a police officer in Davie. A stepson works for the Coconut Creek police department.

“It hasn't sunk in yet,” Meyers, 75, said of Rein's death. “I couldn't tell you how I feel.”

Rein served as a Broward deputy from 1987 to 2000; the department lured him out of his second retirement in 2003.

Meyers said she rarely worried about Rein's safety because his job involved dealing with inmates, not working the streets. However, she said her ex-husband should not have been alone with Mazza, whom she called a “terrible person.”

“There should have been another deputy with him,” Meyers said.

Rein's file includes numerous letters of commendation, including one from an inmate who said Rein “treated me with a little respect and dignity” when the deputy transported him in 1997.

Rein is the fourth South Florida law enforcement officer and the third Broward deputy shot in the last three months.

Deputy Maury Hernandez was shot in the head Aug. 6 during a traffic stop. He was released from the hospital Oct. 25. Sergeant Chris Reyka, 51, was fatally shot as he was looking for stolen vehicles behind a drug store Aug. 10. His killer is still being sought.

In September, Miami-Dade County police officer Jose Somohano was fatally shot by a gunman who ambushed him and three other officers. The suspect was killed by officers hours later in Broward.

[denn034]

Throw the book at him.

[keithle1]

Dude looks like he should be selling $1.50 slices of pizza in Brooklyn. Don''t be killing law enforcement officers unless you wanna get caught real fast.

[iceman_1960]

I"m not trying to be flippant, but...

Mazza looks like George Clooney in that photograph.

[drinuk]

This is disgraceful, everyone responsible for this man''s death should most certainly be fired and made to support his family. His employers should hang their heads tonight, they are the real criminals.

[iceman_1960]

"Exactly where did the gun come from?"
- Posted by barbaraf4 at 01:12 PM : Nov 07, 2007

Th story asys Mazza "may have had accomplices who ambushed 76-year-old Paul Rein as he drove Mazza to court."

[likeitis5050]

I''m sure his rights were violated in some way...he was denied something...and a victim of child abuse at some point in his life...and once the ACLU or some activist steps in to declare him the true victim he will be released back into society. Just wait and see.

[vic1946-2009]

Okay -- first -- Mazza overpowered the deputy, shot him with the deputy''s own weapon, and then shoved him out of the van.

Secondly, Florida Department of Corrections can get in enough trouble on it''s own. They had nothing to do with this -- Deputy Rein was a Broward County Deputy. I understand that they have a brand new Sheriff there and I hope that now he will IMMEDIATELY look at policies for transfer. My father spent over 40+ years in law enforcement and at one time was a jail commander and at another a chief deputy. NEVER was someone of that age sent out anywhere with a prisoner and if a prisoner had to be transported that had a record like this guy had, it was always a 2-person transfer.

Now, having said that, I hope that the courts down there can get it right with this one and send him to a supermax where he is locked up 23 hours a day, no TV, no mail, no nothing! I don''t know if Florida has a law that murder of a law enforcement officer is a capital offense (death penalty), but if they do, then this does. And, with the right lawyer, his family can sue Mazza''s family and estate (for future monies) for wrongful death and depraved indifference.

And maybe if the Supremes (those wonderful 9 ladies and gentlemen in DC) had to spend a few months riding with law enforcement in South Florida, then just maybe they would reverse some of their inane decisions that are more for criminal rights than victims rights.

[scottyusa]

It would be nice to know if there were any rounds fired from the officer''s gun. That would solve the accomplice mystery. This scum should be in solitary confinement for the rest of his life. The only light he should ever see is the one at the end of the tunnel and I hope it is the train.

[toolmangler-2009]

I''m with you on this Tucker, I am not far from his age myself. I am in good shape for a man half my age (according to the doctors) but theres no way I would attempt to deliver a prisoner by my self. That is sheer stupidity on the D.O.C.s part. I say sue the socks off of them.

[u836203]

There should have been backup in this case. Whats the point of more charges being prosecuted if he were already serving two life sentences unless he would be getting death or life without parole?

[mich12point]

Workers have no rights anymore, its like communism. You can''t speak up or ask for this or ask for that in fear of being fired or demoted. This old guy knew he was in danger but was afraid to speak out. Until american citizens stand up for your own rights its only going to get worse.

[doccc3]

That''s totally on the department of Corrections.Here a Veteran and I but he got pushed into doing a single person transport. Why? Cause I bet they administration /mamagement said he had to or retire casue you can''t do your job. Prisoner transport in every other state requires 2 . And one of those armed. I feel for this person...i really do. His family will be offered no excuses and I bet there''s a gag order. The family will be told if they make a statement without there approval they''ll loose his petition. Ask any correction officer anything and he''ll say he can''t talk about it. The state protects it self with a gag order. You talk/ you loose you petition. There should be a investigation and I''m sure the state will conduct it...cause there all state employee that are scared to tell the true, cause of there jobs. It''s like asking a criminal to conduct his own investigation of his own crime. My heart goes out to his family. let me say one more thing....when a state troop pulls someone over...he doesn''t know who he''s pulling over or what they''ll do.
When a correction office goes to work...he know''s he might not make it back the same day , cause he knows they are all criminals. All these criminals have is time.... to plan how he''s going to . It''s a thin blue line . Correction officers have no fighting chance and they are not regarded as peace serving. Why don''t you do a secret investigation country why...ask what the conditions are?

[barbaraf4]

Exactly where did the gun come from?

[three-o-six]

It is time for the old posters to come out again --

Wanted Dead or Alive

(Preferably Dead)

[racam_us]

Why should a criminal already serving two LIFE terms need to go back to court to stand trial again? This is such a waste of a good man''s life.

[rkb50]

I agree ... why was a 70+ year old man escorting a dangerous criminal serving two life sentences by himself? Yes, sue family ... it''s horrible.