Man shot dead, GI woman hospitalized
after gunfire on Crescent Road

Story and photos by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, July 27, 2007

Members of the Erie County Sheriff’s Department confer, and emergency
crews from the Grand Island Fire Company stand by in the aftermath of a
shooting on Crescent Road near Broadway.

A 26-year-old Grand Island woman is recovering from gunshot wounds today, and her 30-year-old male assailant was shot and killed Wednesday night on Grand Island by an Erie County sheriff’s deputy. The tragic events unfolded on Crescent Road near Broadway, leaving the quiet neighborhood in saddened disbelief.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard said the suspect, Thomas Dodge of Niagara Falls, failed to drop his weapon after repeated requests, and after he continued to threaten the young woman. Howard said the deputy’s actions may well have saved the life of Tami M. Trottnow of Crescent Road.

The Erie County bomb squad was also called in when it was learned that the suspect was carrying two pipe bombs in a backpack, police said, and several homes were evacuated as a precaution. The area was cordoned off during the incident, and more than a dozen emergency vehicles were on the scene of the shooting throughout the night.

Trottnow is listed in good condition at the Erie County Medical Center, where she was treated for three wounds that were not life threatening, Howard said.

The suspect was shot by Deputy Thomas Meredith of West Seneca, a five-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department in his mid-30s who regularly works at the Grand Island Substation. “He absolutely did exactly what we would have expected him to do under those circumstances,” said Dennis Rankin, chief of Police Services for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Pair Had Dated For 2 Months

Howard said Trottnow and Dodge had been dating for about two months, and she apparently broke off the relationship on Monday. The sheriff said it appeared to be a “pivotal day.” Dodge reportedly failed to go to work after that, and his father, who lives at 80 Crescent Road, in his concern to ascertain his son’s whereabouts, had called a woman in Niagara Falls who is the mother of Dodge’s 2-year-old son. She reportedly drove Thomas Dodge to Grand Island on Wednesday night. The Niagara Falls woman was not involved in any of the subsequent events, the sheriff said.

The struggle between Dodge and Trottnow began around 10 p.m. Wednesday, when police received a call of someone attempting suicide, Rankin said. A sheriff’s deputy and a Grand Island police officer were nearby and responded immediately to the address on Crescent Road where shots had just been fired. Howard said Trottnow had managed to break away from Dodge and gained entrance to 83 Crescent, where Dodge continued to pursue her.

Deputy, Suspect Exchange Gunfire

“When he (the deputy) got on scene, he was told by a witness that a male and a woman were in the house, and that the male was harming the woman,” Rankin said. The deputy started to approach the house, when he looked through the window and saw the male and female struggling. “She ran from the house … the male chased her and started shooting at her,” he said. “Our officer ordered him to drop the weapon. At one point, the suspect shot again at the woman. Our officer shot at the suspect.”

As gunfire was exchanged between the deputy and the suspect, a foot chase ensued, Rankin said. “The officer finally got to a situation where he could get a clear shot, but the suspect also had a clear shot at his victim,” Rankin said. The suspect allegedly shot again at the victim. “Our officer was ordering him at all times to ‘drop your weapon; drop your weapon.’ ” Rankin explained. “The suspect continued to shoot at the victim. Our officer yelled at him again: ‘Drop your weapon,’ and he turned toward our officer and our officer shot him, and he’s dead.”

Pipe Bombs Detected

While Meredith was attempting to resuscitate Dodge, he saw the pipe bombs and stopped first aid while trying to neutralize the threat of the explosives, Howard said. The Erie County bomb squad used a robot to remove the bombs and provided safe transit of the explosives. Police later searched Dodge’s Niagara Falls home and found 10 additional bombs, four firearms and a variety of explosive powders, Howard said.

Crews from the Grand Island Fire Company, the Grand Island Police Department and the New York State Police assisted deputies in securing the area.

Fire Cadet Ryan Mock, 17, said he heard shots ring out around 10 p.m. from his home down the street. He was one of many who immediately responded to assist at the scene. Town Supervisor Peter McMahon was at the location, conferring with emergency personnel.

During the interim, Grand Island firefighters provided essential supportive resources, such as scene lighting and related equipment. Grand Island Fire Police also assisted with crime scene barrier taping for security purposes as well as crowd control. A GIFC Rescue Unit also provided rehab liquids for all personnel involved.

Chief Greg Butcher confirmed that when the explosive hazards were eliminated, all GIFC units returned in service, and the incident was turned over the Erie County Sheriff’s Department at 2:05 a.m.

Friends and acquaintances of the man and woman involved in the struggle were too upset Wednesday night to talk to reporters. Farther down the street, residents waited and watched at the end of their driveways, concerned over the loss of life and upset that such a violent incident could happen in their neighborhood. On Thursday morning, a State Police officer visited residents who lived near the site of the shooting.

Howard said the investigation is continuing, but that at this point, it appears Meredith took “heroic” actions, putting himself in harm’s way and pursuing a man armed with weapons and explosives. Meredith is off duty for the next four days on prearranged leave, Howard said. He is expected to be back on the job on the fifth day.

Ray Pauley, public information officer for the Grand Island Fire Co., contributed to this story.