Former Whitman County deputy killed on duty

KALAMA, Wash. — Authorities Monday say they identified and fatally shot the man who allegedly killed a Washington state sheriff’s deputy following a day-long manhunt.

The deputy, Justin DeRosier, went through Whitman County’s reserve academy in 2011 and was hired as a deputy for Whitman County in 2014. DeRosier was also a 2012 Washington State University graduate.

He moved to Cowlitz County in 2016 to be closer to his family.

The Cowlitz County coroner’s office Monday identified the suspect in the fatal shooting as Brian Dellaann Butts, 33, of Longview, in southwestern Washington.

The investigation into DeRosier’s death continued Monday and Sheriff Brad Thurman said he could not provide details about a motive.

Butts was suspected of killing DeRosier on Saturday night as the officer examined a motorhome that was blocking a road in the small southwestern Washington city of Kalama.

DeRosier, 29, had reported over police radio that someone was shooting at him.

The shooting was the first line-of-duty killing of a deputy in the agency’s history, which was formed in the mid-1800s.

Investigators searched a residence near the crime scene after the shooting. Nearly 24 hours after DeRosier was shot, two police officers responded to a “suspicious suspect” call.

Authorities asid Butts was running out of the woods with a firearm when the officers shot and killed him.

DeRosier is survived by a wife and a 5-month-old daughter.

Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said DeRosier was known for his high energy, intelligence, work ethic and always having a smile on his face. Myers said DeRosier worked so hard he almost needed to be told to take a day off.

“Just a young man with the brightest future you could think of ahead of him in law enforcement,” Myers said.

Myers said DeRosier was one of the smartest people he knew and he had fantastic people skills.

“He was a friend to everyone,” he said.

All of these traits, Myers said, would have made him successful in any profession, but DeRosier wanted to serve in law enforcement.

“He was just talented all the way around,” Myers said.

Myers said his staff was shocked by the news and they are having a difficult time talking about it “without getting choked up.”

A post on the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page read: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, daughter, family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”

Cowlitz County Undersheriff Darren Ullmann said the deputy’s daughter is “always going to know what an incredible man her father was.”

“Most of us have known him most of his life. There were few cops who wanted to be a cop more than Justin did. He loved his job. He was incredibly good at it,” he said.

About 200 to 300 people, many connected to law enforcement, gathered Sunday evening to honor DeRosier, singing “Amazing Grace.”

Two other people were arrested in the aftermath of the shooting, one for investigation of rendering criminal assistance to Butts and another on an unrelated warrant.