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Officer Murdered by Hijacker Who then
Shot Pilots After They Refused to Take Off
On the morning of February 22, 1974, Officer George N. Ramsburg was screening passengers
for a departing flight at Delta Airlines. At 7:03 a.m., Samuel Joseph Byck fatally shot
Officer Ramsburg. Following the shooting, Byck ran onto the boarding ramp and onto the
waiting airliner. Attempting to hijack the plane, Byck shot both pilots after they refused
to take-off.
An Anne Arundel County Police officer fired several shots through the cabin window of
the plane. At that point, Byck shot himself and died on the scene from a self-inflicted
wound.
Officer George N. Ramsburg
Age: 25
Maryland Aviation Police
Service: January 1973 – February 22, 1974
Assignment: Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Photo courtesy of Maryland Transportation Authority
Police
Motorist Ran Down Officer on Bay Bridge
Officer Thomas R. Crouch
Age: 52
Maryland Toll Facilities Police
Service: 1967 – October 31, 1991
Assignment: William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge
On the morning of Thursday, October 31, 1991, Officer Crouch was directing traffic on
the eastbound lanes of the Bay Bridge. At 9:01 a.m., a motorist struck Officer Crouch
while he was deploying traffic cones. Officer Crouch was flown by Medevac to Shock
Trauma, where he was pronounced dead at 1:08 p.m.
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Officer Murdered on Bridge by Ex Con
Wanted for Rape in New York
Officer had stopped to assist disabled
van, given ride to man to get gas, was shot and killed
Officer Robert F. Pyles, Sr.
Age: 54
Maryland Toll Facilities Police
Service: November 20, 1967 – September 27, 1986
Assignment: Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge
On the evening of Thursday, September 18, 1986, Officer Pyles was conducting a routine
patrol on US 40 across the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge. He observed a pedestrian
walking on the bridge and stopped to assist and transport the individual off of the
bridge. The pedestrian, Frank “Spanky” Green, was driving a stolen van, which
ran out of gas at approximately 8:20 p.m. Officer Pyles drove Green back to the disabled
van and was joined by several other officers who were examining the van. Green had been
paroled from Attica State Prison in New York and was wanted as a suspect for the rape and
assault of a nursing home attendant after his release. Before reaching the disabled van,
Green shot Officer Pyles. Officer Pyles died on September 27 as a result of his injuries
