Driver kills firefighter collecting for charity

Ken Palmer and Matt Mencarini | Lansing State (Mich.) Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Newlywed firefighter run over collecting donations A 35-year-old firefighter who was a marine, a newlywed, and a soon-to-be first-time dad was killed while collecting donations for charity. Police believe the driver who hit him did it deliberately after the pair exchanged words.

LANSING, Mich. — Dennis Rodeman survived a tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marines.

He was killed on Wednesday while collecting donations for a charity in Lansing, the victim of what police are calling a deliberate hit-and-run crash on the city's south side.

Rodeman, 35, was a seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department. He was married two months ago and expecting his first child. When the incident happened at about 3:40 p.m ET, he was collecting money for muscular dystrophy research near the intersection of Cedar Street and Jolly Road, police and city officials said.

The suspect — a 22-year-old Lansing man — drove away from the scene and was caught near the intersection of Holmes and Waverly roads after a car and foot chase, police said. Lansing police originally said the man was 32.

Police said there was a verbal exchange between the suspect and Rodeman moments before the incident.

"The suspect came by, was upset for whatever reason (and) circled back around" before running into the firefighter, Kraus said. "The preliminary investigation is that he deliberately hit the firefighter who was standing in the road, collecting for the charity."

The suspect, who was driving a small pickup truck, continued north on Cedar Street and eventually was stopped in the 3100 block of Lawdor Road, Lansing police Capt. Darin Southworth said in a news release. He ran from the vehicle and was caught by officers.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero announced Rodeman's death in a statement shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Bernero called the incident "a senseless, unthinkable tragedy."

"We join the men and women of Lansing Fire and all citizens of Lansing in expressing our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues for this heartbreaking loss," he said.

Rodeman was among several firefighters at the intersection taking part in the Fill the Boot fundraising campaign by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters. He was dressed in turnout gear and a reflective vest, Kraus said. He was standing in the center turn lane when he was hit, Kraus said.

Tionna Davis said she was driving southbound on Cedar Street when a northbound vehicle swerved from the right lane into the left lane and hit the firefighter. One of the boots the firefighter was wearing hit her car, she said.

"He literally tried to hit him," she said, referring to the suspect.

Traffic was moving very slowly at the time, Davis said. Two other drivers chased after the vehicle that struck the firefighter and managed to get the license plate number, she said.

Rodeman was a veteran of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Bernero's office said.

"He served his country with great pride, bravery and ability, having survived a tour of duty in Fallujah, Iraq, one of the most dangerous places in the world," Bernero said. "It is beyond comprehension that this American hero lost his life on the streets of Lansing while collecting charitable contributions for children afflicted by muscular dystrophy.

VIDEO | Lansing firefighter hit collecting donations Lansing Firefighter hit collecting donations for 'Fill the Boot' campaign

Lansing Fire Chief Randy Talifarro said Rodeman was "very well thought of" and "a highly regarded individual." The firefighter was married two months ago and was expecting his first child, he said. The department will do all it can to support his family, he said.

"He was just a joy to work around," Talifarro said.

Lansing firefighters were scheduled to collect donations through Friday at the intersection of Cedar and Jolly, according to the website for the Lansing firefighter's union. It was unclear Wednesday evening whether the collection effort will continue as scheduled, a fire department spokesman said.

"To my recollection, we've never had somebody doing charity work struck by a vehicle," Kraus said.