DELAWARE TEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING KENTUCKY DEPUTY PLEADS NOT GUILTY

A 17-year-old has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the death of a Bell County sheriff's deputy in January. Bell County Circuit Clerk Colby Slusher says David J. Poppiti of near New Castle, Del., is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

Slusher says Poppiti also pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of assault on a service animal, fleeing police, speeding and driving without a license.

Poppiti was indicted last week on the murder charge. Police say Poppiti drove away from a gas station Jan. 10 without paying, and when officers tried to stop him, he crashed into Deputy Sean Pursifull's parked cruiser. Pursifull and his search dog were both killed.

A judge ruled last month that Poppiti could be tried as an adult. Slusher says a pretrial conference is scheduled on May 19.