BALA CYNWYD, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Lower Merion police are investigating after officers shot and killed a man in Bala Cynwyd who was wanted on child rape charges. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said the suspect — also an ex-cop — fired at officers first.
It happened just before 4 a.m. Wednesday on Old Lancaster Road, near City Avenue. Police on patrol spotted a car belonging to 38-year-old Francis Connell Collier, who was wanted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office on child rape and other sexual assault charges, officials said.
When officers confronted Collier, investigators said he fired at them. The officers returned fire, fatally striking Collier. The officers were not injured in the exchange.
Collier was a former police officer with the Morton Police Department in Delaware County. He was placed on leave and then resigned in December.
At that time, officials started to investigate allegations of child sex abuse that started years ago, when Collier was a teenager. According to court documents, a victim came forward when she saw a social media post that Collier had at one point been named to the Delaware County Child Abuse and Exploitation Task Force, and was concerned.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office got involved and charged Collier on Tuesday with rape of a child and other sexual assault felony charges.
Morton Police Chief Kenneth Lawless, in a statement, said the department officials are "deeply troubled" by the allegations. He noted there were no allegations against Collier during his time as a police officer.
