Published on Sunday, January 14, 2007
in the Lakeland Ledger

Suspects in FHP Slaying Caught

The two suspects in the killing of Sgt. Nick Sottile were arrested by state authorities Saturday morning following a massive manhunt that brought in more than 300 law enforcement officers from 25 different agencies around the state.

Joshua Lee Altersberger, 19, who is accused of shooting Sottile, 48, during a traffic stop, was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on a charge of first degree murder. He is being held without bail at Highlands County Jail.

Quintin Jerome Kendal, 21, has also been arrested by FDLE special agents. He was booked into the county jail on a charge of trespassing in a citrus grove. He is being held on $10,000 bail.

Altersberger is from Sebring and Kendal is from Bainbridge, Ga.

A special response team arrested Altersberger without incident at a Sebring home around 4:57 a.m. Kendal surrendered to authorities patrolling the incident perimeter on County Road 17 between Sebring and Lake Placid about 7:30 a.m.

The arrests were announced at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Saturday outside the FDLE command center on U.S. 27 north of Lake Placid. The command center ran the search operation - the largest in the history of Highlands County - which began after the shooting Friday afternoon.

"We said last night we would get 'em," FHP director Christopher Knight said. "And we did."

Knight praised the statewide response and took time to single out the efforts of the FDLE, Highlands County Sheriff's office and Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton.

The ordeal began Friday about 3:20 p.m. when Sottile made a traffic stop on a beige Toyota Camry on U.S. 27 just north of Whitmore Curve near Lake Placid.

Kendal, a passenger in the car, told investigators that Altersberger, who was driving, swerved while on U.S. 27 and got the attention of Sottile, reports said.

A witness was cut off by Altersberger just before the traffic stop. The witness, who is not being identified by law enforcement, told Special Agent Tommy Ray that he pulled up behind Sottile's cruiser to discuss being cut off.

The witness said Kendal ran away from the car into an orange grove.

Before Altersberger stopped for Sottile, Kendal said, Altersberger said he was going to shoot the trooper, according to arrest reports. Fearing his friend was going to make good on his threat, Kendal ran into the Lykes Brothers citrus grove.

Sottile then approached the car.

"Sottile approached the vehicle and ordered the driver to place his hands on the steering wheel," according to arrest reports. "Sottile leaned into the driver window when the driver produced a silver handgun, possibly a .22 or .32 caliber, and fired one round into Sottile's neck area. Sottile fell back, reached for his radio on his lapel to remove it, then collapsed."

Sottile never drew his weapon, law enforcement said.

After about fifteen seconds the driver pointed the gun out the window and fired a second shot, it is reported. He fled the scene driving the Camry.

The witness identified Altersberger from a photo lineup.

Earlier law enforcement reports said it was the passenger who shot the officer while running away.

Investigators spoke with a female who was contacted by Altersberger a short time after the shooting, according to an arrest affidavit.

Special Agent Kevin Sapp reports the female witness, whose name is not being released, said Altersberger came to her at a house in Sebring and told her to get in the car.

"While in the car Altersberger stated that he just killed a police officer by shooting him in the neck and had to get rid of the car," said arrest affidavits released by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

Altersberger then reportedly drove the woman to an orange grove near her home. Altersberger wiped down the interior of the vehicle with his shirt, removed the gun and left the car, according to police reports.

Altersberger has two prior arrests. He was arrested by the Avon Park Police Department in 2003 on a charge of domestic violence against his mother. In 2004 he was arrested during an undercover narcotics investigation by the Highlands County Sheriff's office on charges of possession of cocaine and cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kendal does not have any prior arrests.

The first court appearance for Altersberger and Kendal is scheduled for this morning at the Polk County Courthouse before Judge Mary Katherine Green.