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Judicial proceedings in New York City on Tuesday revealed that police officers involved with the capture of the suspect were so skeptical of a tip on his whereabouts that they joked about a reward sandwich in text messages.

"My supervisor said, 'if you get the NYC shooter, I’ll purchase you a sub from a local eatery,'" testified Police Officer Joseph Detwiler of the Pennsylvania force. "I said, 'Regard it done.'"

In under an sixty minutes, Detwiler discovered that this apparently unreliable lead was true.

A Capture at a Fast-Food Restaurant

Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania at a fast-food chain on that date in connection with the killing of the United HealthCare CEO. The CEO's death on a NYC street on the prior date had ignited a sprawling search and stoked widespread anger.

In response to the call center's instructions, Detwiler and another officer went to the McDonald's. "I observed the male sitting at a table inside, near the restrooms," Detwiler testified. The man was dressed in a bulky jacket, tan hat and light blue medical mask, just as the tipster had said.

Detwiler inquired of the man for his identification and clarified that "someone contacted authorities, they believed you were suspicious". He requested ID, which the man handed over. This ID would later be revealed as fraudulent.

Detwiler also requested the man to lower his mask. "I realized it was him instantly," Detwiler stated.

Court Hearings and Evidence Dispute

Detwiler's account came on the day two of a possibly weeklong proceeding about whether proof was collected illegally during the suspect's interaction with police. The defense lawyers have consistently pushed for the suppression of evidence obtained during his detention, claiming he was not immediately informed of his constitutional rights.

The dispatch tape documenting Detwiler's call was played in the hearing.

"There's a man in the McDonald's that resembles the NYC shooter," the operator informed Detwiler.

Detwiler responded: "Affirmative. We will be on that."

When asked regarding his tone, Detwiler explained, "At the time, I was being somewhat flippant when I responded. I did not believe it was going to be the individual that they thought it was."

A Moments Following Identification

Detwiler said he "stayed calm" after identifying the suspect and contacted his sergeant. "Yes, he's here. It's him," Detwiler recalled stating.

On the call, Detwiler emphasized that he wasn't kidding. "My supervisor was surprised, since he was the one who texted me the text message when we got the dispatch," about the free sandwich.

Detwiler attempted to behave as casually as he could, informing the man that police were there over reports that he had been lingering too a while. Officer-worn footage depicted Mangione consuming food.

"In conversation, I asked him if it was a particular menu item," Detwiler stated. He responded affirmatively. "I then said it was my preferred item." His goal, he said, was "simply trying to maintain things calm and routine."

The Significance of the Mask

How much of a role Mangione's mask played in drawing suspicion is unclear.

When asked regarding mask culture in the area, Detwiler said, "We don't use face coverings. We have natural immunity."

And since "no one uses them" in that locale, Detwiler understood the man they would subsequently identify as the suspect was the person who had caused concern. "He had a mask on," Detwiler testified. "So he had to be the man we were called there for."

Legal Defense Questioning

A defense attorney, one of the suspect's lawyers, cross-examined Detwiler after the state wrapped its questioning. She focused on details surrounding his identification of her client.

Agnifilo highlighted that the dispatch call was labeled as "not urgent". "It didn't sound serious on the dispatch, no," Detwiler agreed. She also questioned that lights and sirens were not used.

Agnifilo implied through her line of inquiry that the speed of the positive ID seemed off. "It's at that moment, two seconds into seeing him, you know: he's the NYC shooter?"

Detwiler again that he knew. "No uncertainty in my mind."

Agnifilo also sought to suggest that Mangione was held without being informed of his Miranda rights. She questioned the police's physical position in the McDonald's, implying they were standing to block Mangione from leaving.

Detwiler responded that he and his fellow officer needed space. "We're not going to stand next to each other and grasp each other's hands."