Police Officer Tyler Timmins

Officer: Pontoon Beach Police Department, Police Officer Tyler Timmins

Date: 10/26/2021        Location: Pontoon Beach, IL             FACTORS (1,2,8,9,15,21)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Scott Hyden

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Hyden criminal history started back in 2010 and included arrests for drugs, with time served in federal prison. /Yes, Hyden had warrants for failing to show up at court on “drug and forgery charges” and was suspected to be in a stolen vehicle.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Hyden had prior drug charges. /None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/31

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At approximately 7:50 a.m. on October 26, 2021, Police Officer Tyler Timmins conducted a vehicle and traffic stop on a suspected stolen vehicle being operated by Scott Hyden.

Actions taken by subject toward police: As Officer Timmins approached Hyden’s stationary vehicle at the gas station, Hyden opened fire on him, striking Timmins in the neck.

Reactions by the police: Back-up officers quickly rushed Officer Timmins to the hospital where he died from his injuries while officers remaining at the scene arrested Hyden.

How murdered? Officer Timmins was shot while conducting a traffic stop on a suspected stolen vehicle.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? A suspected stolen vehicle would warrant a felony stop be conducted, which if carried out properly could possibly have prevented this LOD murder.

Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Since Officer Timmins suspected the vehicle to be stolen, he was justified to have his weapon drawn and pointed at the driver and could have used deadly force if the driver made a furtive movement to get a weapon or displayed one.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Hyden was arrested at the scene and is charged with “two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, one count of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, one count of unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of offenses relating to motor vehicles.”