Update In Accused Cop Killer Case

A tip came into the Berner Task Force with a sighting of Timothy Berner on June 5th (one day after the murder of Officer Mark Sawyers).  The tipster was driving down Interstate 75 in Alger, MI when he spotted two men on the side of the road who appeared to need help, and he pulled over.  The tipster reported seeing a red Camaro like Timothy Berner's being loaded onto a black, shiny enclosed car hauler. That was being pulled by a two-tone blue and gray extended cab older-model pickup. 

The tipster was able to identify Timothy Berner's picture in a photo lineup. The eyewitness also described the other man as a white male in his twenties with curly hair and a pock-marked face.

It was the best lead police had at the time.  Since Berner's suicide, police have not yet been able to confirm the information. 

At the time of his death, Berner still had the red Camaro, and police say it contained many valuable clues tying Berner to Mark's murder and his activities during his month on the run.  Police have found no tangible proof of Berner renting a car hauler, but are interested in identifying the unknown male in this sighting who may have unwittingly helped an accused cop killer.

Caught On Camera

In the entire history of its police department, Sterling Heights, Michigan had never before had an officer murdered in the line of duty -- until Friday, June 4th, 2004.

Police say Tim Berner changed that.  Police Officer Mark Sawyers was sitting in his patrol car around 8:30 pm that Friday.  Officer Sawyers was filling out an incident report on a recent car accident.  He sat in the quiet parking lot of a Target store, bending over to fill out his paperwork.  Cops say that's when Timothy Berner in a red Chevy Camaro pulled along the passenger side of Mark's police cruiser.   Police say Berner fired a single shot from a shotgun into the back of Officer Sawyer's head.  Cops say Berner stole Mark's handgun and fled the scene.

A surveillance camera from a nearby bank ATM recorded Berner's vehicle fleeing the scene. Interestingly enough, the ATM also recorded other images of Berner's vehicle following other cop cars. Cops say Berner had been stalking cops that afternoon, looking for the right opportunity.

Cop Hero Mowed Down In His Prime

Officer Sawyers had joined the Sterling Heights Police Department just seven months earlier. Prior to joining the force he was a police officer in Detroit for three years. Officer Sawyers leaves behind a wife and eleven-month old daughter. There is a $25,000 reward for Timothy Berner's arrest, offered through the Sterling Heights Police Department.

Through their investigation, cops say they have uncovered Berner's criminal history.  According to police in Michigan, Berner had been robbing banks - using the shotgun to intimidate customers and employees.  The same shotgun they say he used to kill Officer Sawyers. According to cops, Berner told people the shotgun was too unwieldy for him - he wanted something smaller, a handgun.  Berner believed, according to cops, that he could more easily walk into a bank without attracting attention.  So, cops say, Berner targeted the one subject he knew would have a gun on him - a law enforcement officer.  Police believe that Berner killed Officer Sawyers just so he could get his service revolver.

Immediately after the murder, police say that Berner went to a nearby bar and drank heavily for about three hours. They say that while he was there Berner drank his favorite drink: Jack and Coke. Police say that he left, very intoxicated, with an unknown woman. Police still want to know who she is and if she was Berner's accomplice or one of his victims.

Wanted For:

• Murder , Sterling Heights , MI ; Jun 04, 2004

(Information valid as of May 20, 2005)

Associated Persons:

Unknown Berner Female Associate
Cops say this unknown female was last seen with Timothy Berner.
Wanted for Questioning
»More information
Mark Sawyers

»More information

Television Airings:

• »July 31, 2004
• »July 17, 2004
• »June 26, 2004
• »June 19, 2004
• »June 12, 2004

AMW Radio:

• »July 26 2004
• »July 10 2004
• »June 30 2004
• »June 17 2004
• »June 08 2004