PINEVILLE — The two juveniles charged with the deaths of Bell County Sheriff Deputy Sean Pursifull and his K-9 partner, King are being named by media sources in Delaware, where one of the teenagers was from and where both were stopped by police earlier in the week.

The driver is reportedly a 17-year-old from New Castle, Delaware, David J. Poppiti. The reported name of the passenger is Eric Gerren, a 16-year-old from the town of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.

The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware revealed the names of the two young men in a Friday, Jan. 11 report, “Delaware teen, friend face charges in crash that killed deputy, K-9”, the associated press also reports the juveniles’ names.

Poppiti and Gerren allegedly left a Harlan County gas station without paying for their $38 tank of gas early on Sunday, Jan. 10 and led police on a high-speed chase into Bell County, on U.S. Hwy. 119. The chase ended when their vehicle left the highway and crashed into Deputy Pursifull’s cruiser, parked on the shoulder. Pursifull and King died on the scene.

Delaware State Police report that the two men had been stopped and questioned by a Delaware trooper early on Sunday, Jan. 6. A Delaware trooper on routine patrol saw three suspicious men and stopped them shortly after midnight. Police identify the three as 17-year-old David Poppiti of New Castle, 16-year-old Eric Gerren of Lincoln University, Pa., and an 18-year-old.

Officials say when the trooper approached and questioned the men, Poppiti threw a bag of marijuana on the ground and ran. Gerren and the other man were taken into custody but not charged, and Gerren was turned over to his father.

The Pennsylvania State Police said Gerren was reported missing Tuesday with the family car.

Authorities checked the area for Poppiti and could not find him. Warrants for the arrest of Poppiti are pending in Delaware on charges relating to possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. According to The News Journal’s report, Family Court records in Delaware say Poppiti’s juvenile record dates to April 2004, when he was 14. He was found delinquent on several offensive touching charges, third-degree assault, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and conspiracy. Reportedly, in Aug. 2007, Poppiti pleaded guilty to an assault charges and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, attend anger management classes and keep curfew.

As a result of the tragic situation that claimed the life of Sheriff Deputy Pursifull and K-9 Deputy King in Kentucky, Poppiti is also charged with the murder of a police officer, assault of a service animal, speeding, fleeing and evading, theft by unlawful taking and driving without an operators license. Gerren is charged with the murder of a police officer and assault of a service animal.

They are being held at the Adair County Juvenile Detention Center. They were reportedly arraigned in Bell County District Court on Friday.

Poppiti’s brother, Matthew Poppiti, spoke with The News Journal on Thursday, as the news came streaming in, “I don’t think he did anything intentionally, I think he was just acting on instinct trying to get out of a bad situation.”

Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett clarified the department’s feelings about losing one of their own, “The bad guys walk away... too many times. Of course, these are young people. But they are murderers now,” he said. Bennett held Deputy Pursifull’s hand in his final moments and had known him since he was a child.

This incident is still under investigation by the Kentucky State Police. The Middlesboro Daily News does not usually identify juveniles, however, due to the nature of the charged crime and the fact that state and national media sources identify the juveniles by name, we bring you this news. The Daily News will continue to update readers about this tragedy as more information becomes available.

Brandy Calvert is the Senior Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact her via e-mail at bmurray@middlesborodailynews.com.