Police Chief David Coty Williams

David Coty Williams

Chief David Williams was kidnapped and left to die in a field.

He had spotted a man with a painted face who was acting suspicious and picked him up. He radioed in that he had taken the suspect into custody and that he needed assistance. The man's intent was to kidnap one of the two Ryan officers and lock them in a car trunk so he could then rob the Ryan drug store. Chief Williams' car was driven into a creek, and his frozen body was found in a field approximately a quarter mile away the next day.

Chief Williams' abductor was tried on first-degree murder charges, but the trial ended in a hung jury. He later plead no contest to a charge of first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to five years. He served four years and one month and died in 1994.

Chief Williams served with the Ryan Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and son.