Deputy Shot and Killed, Patrol Vehicle Stolen

On May 2, a sergeant for the Lake County Sheriffs
Department was shot and killed, after he stopped to assist
what he believed to be two stranded motorists.

Sgt. Richard Helbush a 13-year veteran of the department, was
returning to the main office shortly after midnight when he
observed a vehicle with a flat tire along the roadway in an isolated
area. Stopping to see if he could help, Helbush discovered Robert
Cox, 39, and Annika Collins, 27, both of Stockton. As Helbush
returned to his vehicle, he was shot three times in the back by
Cox. Unknown to Lake County authorities, Cox and Collins were
suspects in a homicide in Stockton.

Taking Helbush's wallet and revolver, Cox and Collins left the
scene in the sheriff's patrol vehicle. When dispatch could not
contact Helbush, other units responded for back up, finding him
dead at the scene.

Another deputy located the stolen patrol vehicle, and went in
pursuit, which ended when the stolen vehicle crashed into a tree.
A gun battle followed, with box wounded in the arm, and Collins
taken in custody without injury.

More than 300 uniformed peace officers attended the funeral for
Helbush, 34, who was interred at Kelseyville Cemetery.

Helbush was the second officer of the Lake County Sheriffs
Department to be killed in the line of duty in recent times,
the other being a court guard in 1967.

On October 21, after being bound over for trial by preliminary
hearing, Robert Cox hung himself in his cell at the Lake County
Jail.

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