Police: Suspect In Coach Killing Attacked House

PARKERSBURG, Iowa (AP) – Police say a 24-year-old man charged with murdering a prominent Iowa high school football coach was supposed to have been taken to a hospital psychiatric ward after leading police on a car chase.

Cedar Falls Police Chief Jeff Olson says he was told Butler County Sheriff’s deputies would take Mark Becker to the ward after taking a baseball bat to a Cedar Falls home and leading police on a chase Saturday night.

The Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on whether deputies took Becker to the ward.

Olson says Becker was released from custody at some point but that his department wasn’t notified.

Becker is charged with first-degree murder in the Wednesday slaying of Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas. Authorities say Becker, a former player, walked into the high school weight room and unloaded several shots into Thomas in front of some current players.

Becker was charged Monday with eluding police pursuit.

By NIGEL DUARA, Associated Press Writer

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)