East Moline Police pay respects to officer killed in the line of duty in 1969
On this day in 1969, East Moline Officer Richard Morton Jr. lost his life in the line of duty.
Every year, the East Moline Police Department remembers the fallen officer and the tragedy that took his life May 25, 1969, according to a Facebook post.
On that day, officers responded to a the 1300 block of 10th Avenue for a 'routine' trouble call. Neighbors called and told police that Daniel Hougas was outside with a rifle threatening to shoot neighbor children who reportedly were playing on his lawn.
Morton and Officer Robert Butcher arrived and immediately seized the 'rifle,' which turned out to be a BB gun, from Hougas, the post says.
According to the post, Senior Officer Morton directed Butcher to transport Hougas to the police department. At that time, Hougas pulled away from officers, took a few steps, and drew a .32 caliber revolver from his pocket.
Hougas began firing at the officers, and reportedly fired five shots. A bullet struck Morton in the chest, the post says.
'Despite being injured, Officer Richard Morton Jr. was able to fire two rounds at the suspect. Officer Robert Butcher and Officer Richard Morton Jr. returned fire' and Hougas was killed, the Facebook post says.
Morton died several hours later while undergoing surgery at Illini Hospital in Silvis.
The Facebook post concludes: 'Every year at this time we pay our respects and memorialize Officer Richard Morton Jr. who paid the ultimate sacrifice while faithfully serving the community in East Moline. This year marks 56 years. Thank you for your service, Officer Richard Morton Jr. You will never be forgotten!'
On December 19, 2007, retired East Moline Police Department Officer Bob Butcher was presented an award for his bravery that day, according to the City of East Moline website.
The award was given to Butcher by the Quad City Council of Police Chiefs. In this photo Butcher is shown with Chief Moreno at the Annual East Moline Police Department Christmas Party on December 20, 2007, when Butcher was once again recognized for the award.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Vehicle fire shuts down portion of S. King Street
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A portion of S. King Street was closed due to a vehicle fire, the Honolulu Police Department said in an HNL Alert. The public was first notified about the fire at approximately 3:30 p.m. on June 6. Traffic was being rerouted to Isenburg Street. Officials are urging the public to avoid the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Suspect arrested in Brevard County after trying to bomb state radio tower, deputies say
The Brief A suspect has been taken into custody in Brevard County after deputies say he attempted to bomb a state radio tower. Deputies say the incident was isolated and not an act of terrorism. Officials are asking locals to avoid the area of Deering Parkway Road and use alternative routes while they investigate. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A suspect has been taken into custody in Brevard County after deputies say he attempted to bomb a state radio tower. Officials say the incident was isolated and not an act of terrorism. What we know Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said deputies responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle on Friday in the area of Deering Parkway Road. The vehicle was trying to pull away when deputies arrived at the scene. A number of units, including the bomb unit, were seen on Deering Parkway Road between Interstate 95 and U.S. 1. Ivey said the vehicle's driver told a story that "did not match what was going on," causing investigators to search the vehicle and discover an explosive device that the sheriff said was a possible pipe bomb. Ivey said the driver of the vehicle appeared to be angry over employment issues and planned to target one of the state radio towers. "The individual has made some statements about getting fired and things of that nature," Ivey said. Ivey said the incident was isolated and not an act of terrorism. He said the suspect is now in custody. What we don't know It is currently unclear what employment issues led up to the suspect attempting to target the radio tower with the explosive device. Officials have not yet released the identity of the suspect taken into custody. FOX 35 has reached out to investigators for more information on the incident. What's next Officials said Deering Parkway Road, between I-95 and U.S. 1, will continue to be closed for a few hours while the investigation continues. What you can do Authorities are asking locals to avoid the area of Deering Parkway Road and use alternative routes while they investigate. Dig deeper A pipe bomb is a type of homemade bomb that is not manufactured through standard military or commercial processes. A pipe bomb is typically constructed using a section of pipe, often steel, sealed tightly at both ends and filled with an explosive material. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) in Facebook posts on June 6, 2025.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jacksonville LGBTQ+ advocate ‘disgusted' by local Republican club Facebook post
LGBTQ+ advocates respond with outrage after a Facebook post from a local Republican group appeared to tie Pride Month to notorious criminals, including serial killers and sex offenders. The post, shared by the Mandarin Republican Club, included the caption: 'Happy Pride Month. So glad our Acosta Bridge was lit in their honor.' Below were images of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky, and a Georgia couple convicted of sexually assaulting their children. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Also included in the post was a photo of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan with Andrew Gillum, a former Florida gubernatorial candidate who was involved in a sex scandal but never faced any criminal charges. LGBTQ+ community leader James Eddy called the post offensive and hateful. 'In this day and age, people on Facebook feel like they can put anything,' Eddy said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'It's sad that it came from the Republican Party.' Eddy said he 'really was disgusted… the fact that you associate Pride—because they said 'Happy Pride' in it—with pictures of like Jeffrey Dahmer.' The post appeared to criticize a peaceful protest where supporters lit up the Acosta Bridge with flashlights. That protest was in response to a state ban on lighting public structures in specific colors, which LGBTQ+ advocates believe targets Pride celebrations. 'You know, when something is taken away, you try to fight against it,' Eddy added. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] After Action News Jax began asking questions, the post was deleted. The Duval County Republican Party responded with a statement: 'We did not push it out. We did not approve it. We did not sanction it.' Attempts to contact the head of the Mandarin Republican Club were unsuccessful. The mayor's office declined to comment. As of now, it is still unclear who within the Mandarin Republican Club was responsible for the post. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
