San Marcos Police Department and community mourn loss of fallen officer
SAN MARCOS, Texas - A small memorial to officer Ken Copeland, Tuesday morning, continued to grow in the lobby of San Marcos police headquarters. throughout the day people came by dropping off food for the staff, among them Mari Cantu and Shaunna Couser.
"It doesn't seem real ..."said Couser.
The women are managers of a local motel and said Copeland was not only a friend but also a protector.
"He was always at our hotel, and was always there helping us out, he was just their yesterday morning with us, and it’s sad to see him gone,” said Cantu.
Officer Copeland, a 19-year veteran with the police department was serving an arrest warrant when he was shot and killed Monday afternoon.
To help his co-workers two comfort dogs were brought to police headquarters Tuesday. Daniel Sievert said his dogs were used in Dallas after the police ambush there and most recently after the shooting in Sutherland Springs.
"I found out they have a keen sense, for the hurting, physically and especially emotionally, and when they come along side people, it’s that quiet comfort it’s that sense of I’m here for you, I’m not here to judge you, I’m not here to give you any advice, I’m just going to spend a few minutes with you and let you be able to express your grief and your heartache,” Sievert.
While members of this department mourn Copeland's loss, we are learning more about the alleged gunman.
"It’s the kind of thing you never see coming,” said Jason Mcglothlin.
It all happened at a home on corner of Valero Dr. and Capistrano in the El Camino Real subdivision. White tape can now be spotted at the front entrance-way where bullets from the exchange of gunfire cut marks in the stone masonry.
The homeowner according to court records is Stewart Mettz. the Mcglothlin's said Mettz was a military veteran who in the evenings would sit on his back porch and play the guitar.
"He seemed very normal, was very meticulous with keeping up his house and his yard,” said McGlothlin.
There were recent reports of domestic problems, according to McGlothlin.
"I know there was an ambulance called over there a week or so ago, but he had an elderly mother living there, so I don’t know if that had anything to do with anything or not."
Court Documents obtained by FOX 7 indicate there was a problem in the home. According to the Court Records Officer Ken Copeland went to the house Monday to arrest Mettz on a misdemeanor family violence charge.
Mettz’s wife and mother in law had accused him of assaulting them last month. Both claim they were afraid of Mettz and he had also threatened them to not file any charges.
Mettz spent Tuesday in an Austin hospital recovering from the wounds he received during the standoff with police. Sources told FOX 7 that when Mettz is released from the hospital he will be taking to jail and magistrate on Felony charges related to the death of Officer Copeland.