[NYPOST] Florida police arrested an ex-Marine in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy — but the sheriff lamented cops never had "an opportunity" to shoot the runaway.Patrick McDowell, 35, on the run since the fatal shooting of Nassau Deputy Joshua Moyers last week was nabbed Tuesday at a Callahan sports field concession stand, Sheriff Bill Leeper said.
"I’ll just say I wish he would have gave us an opportunity to shoot him but he didn’t, he crawled out like a coward," Leeper said during a news conference. "He’s in jug and he’s gonna pay for what he did for Deputy Moyers."
McDowell is accused of shooting Moyers twice during a traffic stop on Friday, then going on the lam — setting off a five-day manhunt where he evaded capture by reportedly shooting a police dog.
Authorities in pursuit of McDowell had fired shots at the runaway, hitting him in the leg and grazing his head, the sheriff said.
Police finally caught up with McDowell Tuesday, with tips he was trying to get help to treat his wounds without going to a hospital where he feared he’d be detected.
They surrounded a ballpark concession stand and bathroom, where McDowell said he wanted to give himself up.
"He came out of the bathrooms," Leeper said. "Had him get down on the ground and crawl. He crawled like a baby, like the coward he is."
A police dog attacked him on the arms after the sheriff said McDowell didn’t "fully cooperate" with SWAT team commands.
We called on the dog to stop after 20 minutes or so. He was a mess...
Authorities cuffed McDowell using Moyers’ handcuffs, Leeper added. There are people cops believe helped McDowell avoid police the last few days, and the sheriff said more arrests can be coming in relation to the massive manhunt.
McDowell’s father, Richard, was "glad no one else got hurt," he told News 4 Jax. The father had previously told First- Coast News that his son had returned from Iraq and suffered from mental health issues and substance abuse.