Judicial hearings in Manhattan on Tuesday disclosed that law enforcement officials involved with the capture of the suspect were so doubtful of a lead on his location that they bantered about a reward hoagie in SMS exchanges.
"He said, 'if you get the New York City gunman, I’ll purchase you a hoagie from a nearby eatery,'" testified Officer Joseph Detwiler of the Pennsylvania police department. "I said, 'Regard it accomplished.'"
In under an sixty minutes, Detwiler discovered that this seemingly spurious lead was true.
A Capture at a Quick-Service Eatery
The suspect was apprehended in Pennsylvania at a fast-food chain on 9 December 2024 in connection with the murder of the United HealthCare CEO. Thompson's fatal shooting on a NYC street on 4 December 2024 had spurred a widespread search and fueled widespread anger.
In response to the call center's orders, Detwiler and a colleague proceeded to the McDonald's. "Upon arrival, I observed the man sitting at a booth there, near the restrooms," Detwiler testified. The man was dressed in a large jacket, brown hat and light blue face covering, just as the tipster had said.
Detwiler asked the man for his name and clarified that "someone called, they believed you were suspicious". He asked for identification, which the man handed over. This ID would later be revealed as fake.
Detwiler also requested the man to lower his face covering. "I realized it was him instantly," Detwiler stated.
Court Proceedings and Proof Challenge
The officer's testimony came on the second day of a potentially weeklong hearing about whether evidence was gathered improperly during the suspect's encounter with officers. The defense attorneys have consistently argued for the suppression of evidence secured during his arrest, alleging he was not promptly advised of his constitutional rights.
The dispatch tape documenting Detwiler's dispatch was presented in court.
"We have a man in the McDonald's that looks like the NYC suspect," police dispatch informed Detwiler.
Detwiler replied: "Affirmative. We'll be on that."
When asked about his demeanor, Detwiler clarified, "At the time, I was being somewhat flippant when I responded. I did not think it was going to be the individual that they thought it was."
The Critical Moments Following Recognition
Detwiler testified he "remained composed" after recognizing the suspect and called his supervisor. "Yes, he's present. It's him," Detwiler remembered saying.
On the call, Detwiler insisted that he wasn't joking. "My supervisor was taken aback, since he was the one who sent me the text message when we received the call," about the promised hoagie.
Detwiler tried to act as normally as possible, telling Mangione that police were there over reports that he had been lingering too a while. Officer-worn video showed Mangione consuming food.
"I inquired him if it was a steak sandwich," Detwiler said. He replied with a sound. "I then remarked it was my favorite." His intention, he said, was "simply trying to keep things peaceful and normal."
A Role of the Mask
The extent of a factor the suspect's mask had in attracting suspicion remains debatable.
When asked regarding mask culture in Altoona, Detwiler responded, "We don't use masks. They have natural immunity."
And since "no one wears them" there, Detwiler understood the man they would subsequently confirm as Mangione was the person who had caused concern. "The individual had a face covering on," Detwiler said. "So he had to be the person we were called there for."
Defense Questioning
Karen Agnifilo, among Mangione's counsel, examined Detwiler after the state concluded its questioning. She focused on details about his identification of Mangione.
Agnifilo noted that the dispatch call was labeled as "low-priority". "It didn't seem serious on the dispatch, no," Detwiler conceded. She also pointed out that emergency signals were not used.
Agnifilo suggested through her line of inquiry that the speed of the identification seemed questionable. "It's at that moment, two seconds into observing him, you know: he's the NYC murder suspect?"
Detwiler again that he was sure. "No doubt in my mind."
Agnifilo also sought to establish that her client was held without being apprised of his rights. She questioned the police's placement in the McDonald's, suggesting they were positioned to block him from leaving.
Detwiler responded that he and his fellow officer required room. "We are not going to stand next to each other and hold each other's hands."
