In the pre-dawn hours of August 15, 1997, 27-year-old Allen County Sheriff’s Department deputy Eryk Todd Heck was fatally shot while investigating a reported burglary in a rural part of the county. Around 1:30 a.m., he and a partner found a truck parked on an abandoned railroad right-of-way near Till Road, about a mile from the burglary location. A male suspect appeared and, when Heck’s partner went to question him, the suspect opened fire, striking the partner in the arm and causing him to fall.

Deputy Heck placed himself between the wounded partner and the gunman and returned fire. During the exchange Heck was hit in the neck, leg, and jaw. He was able to shoot and kill the suspect but later succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Heck had served with the department for five years.

Does anyone have information about the incident or knew Deputy Heck and can share details that might help complete the record?