Male shooting suspect had 3 warrants

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE/AP) - The man shot to death by police officers after shooting Waterloo Deputy Marshal Stephen Brady was facing 12 years behind bars on felony drug charges.

Ralph D. Hardiek, 41, Auburn, was arrested April 29 for manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, and possession of paraphernalia.

The meth and nuisance charges are felonies, the paraphernalia charge is a misdemeanor.

Noble County Court records indicate on Sept. 8, Hardiek pleaded guilty to the charges and his sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 8.

All parties were present for Hardiek's sentencing, except Hardiek. His public defender, James Abbs, asked for a continuance but Noble County Judge David G. Laur denied the request and immediately issued three warrants, without bond, for his arrest.

Hardiek has a criminal record in Utah dating to at least 1989, Department of Corrections spokesman Steve Gehrke said. Hardiek served 11 years for possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and was paroled in 2001, but he returned to prison on a charge of mayhem from 2001 until 2004.

Gehrke said Hardiek was in and out of prison from 2004 until 2008, including a charge of walking away from a halfway house, until his release on Dec. 2, 2008.

Records show Hardiek also served time in Idaho on drug and weapons charges.

The second suspect in the shooting , Julie M. King, 33, Auburn, had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of conversion after initially facing charges of receiving stolen property. She received a suspended one-year sentence in jail, credited with 24 days already served.

King is currently at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. She was last listed in critical condition after suffering several gunshot wounds.

Police opened fire on King and Hardiek after they failed to comply with officers orders. A three hour manhunt ensued after Brady was found shot by a second Waterloo marshal.