Sacto 9-1-1: Golf tournament, scholarships to honor slain CHP officer

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Sacto 9-1-1

The Sacramento Bee's Crime blog is a comprehensive report of crime news, trends and information for your community and beyond.

September 5, 2008

Golf tournament, scholarships to honor slain CHP officer

Officer Killed.jpg From Niesha Lofing:

More than 140 golfers are expected to participate in a tournament today to honor slain CHP Officer Scott Russell and raise money for local high school golf programs.

The second memorial golf tournament will begin at 1 p.m. at the Empire Ranch Golf Club, 1620 East Natoma St., Folsom.

The tournament pays tribute to Russell (left photo), who was killed in July 2007 while attempting to help end a high-speed pursuit on Highway 50 in El Dorado County. He was placing a spike-strip on the highway when the vehicle involved in the chase hit him.

The driver is awaiting trial on first-degree murder and other charges.

Russell was a 22-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol and was an avid golfer.

All profits from the tournament will be donated to local high school golf programs, CHP Officer Lizz Dutton said.

Last year, proceeds resulted in six $1,500 scholarships for students, she said.

The tournament, which is full, will be followed by a buffet dinner, silent auction and awards. Mercedes Benz of El Dorado Hills and Auburn Harley Davidson each donated a vehicle as a prize for a hole-in-one" competition.

The California Association of Highway Patrolmen and other sponsors also donated prizes.

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Q: What happened to the killer of Martin Fischalek?

A: Robert Doyle Bratton was sentenced on Jan. 3, 1990, to 25 years to life in prison for the slaying of Martin Fischalek, according to Sacramento Superior Court records.

A Sacramento Superior Court on jury on Aug. 18, 1989, convicted Bratton on four murder and robbery charges in the slaying of Fischalek, his 59-year-old neighbor.

Fischalek was beaten and stabbed to death during a robbery in his Vista Avenue home in south Sacramento County.

Bratton was 17 when the crimes occurred Aug. 2, 1988, but was ordered to be tried as an adult because of the nature of the crimes. Although the charges[ included the special circumstances required for a capital-punishment case, Bratton was protected by law from the capital charges faced by an adult.

During the two-week trial, the prosecution painted a picture of a ruthless killer who needed drug money and ended up beating Fischalek with the leg of a wooden chair and slashing his throat with a kitchen knife. The dead man's stereo, wallet and car were taken.

Fischalek's body was found Aug. 4, 1988, by two of his fellow mechanics who went to check on him when he failed to show up for work at the Niello auto dealerships on Arden Way.

Perhaps the most crucial evidence against Bratton was a tape recording of a conversation he had with a man who struck a deal with investigators to tape his meeting with the suspect.

The jury listened to the recorded discussion of details Williamson described as things that could be known only by the killer.

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