PITTSBURGH -- The lawyer for a drug suspect taken into custody after an FBI agent was shot to death in Indiana Township, said the suspect's wife will face criminal homicide charges in connection with the agent's death.

Special Agent Sam Hicks was shot to death while taking part in a large drug bust throughout the Pittsburgh region Wednesday morning.

The owner of the house where it happened, Robert Korbe, was taken into custody after the shooting.

Robert Korbe Known To Police

Korbe was one of 35 people charged in a drug-trafficking indictment unsealed Wednesday. The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to traffic cocaine and crack from October 2007 through September 2008. Other suspects were being rounded up throughout the Pittsburgh area Wednesday.
Related: Indictment With Full List Of Suspects' Names
Related: Nadine Russo, Paul Spadafora's Ex, Among Arrests In Drug Sweep

Rodriguez said the alleged operation was "a violent drug distribution ring" but did not offer any other details during a brief news conference Wednesday morning.

In August, WTAE Channel 4's news exchange partners at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the 39-year-old Korbe waived a hearing on charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.

Charges in that earlier case stemmed from Sharpsburg police allegations that Korbe fought with officers when he was stopped May 16 after leaving a fight at Pod's Landing Bar. Police said they found him carrying 130 grams of cocaine and pills including Vicodin.

Millvale police Officer Mike Vith told Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons that he's one of the officers who fought with Korbe in the Sharpsburg case. Vith said a Taser was used three times before they could get Korbe into a police car.

Vvth said most officers in the Allegheny valley know that when it's time to detain Korbe, you bring back-up.

Robert Korbe manages a business in downtown Sharpsburg. It was there, in same block of Main Street last May, that eight police officers from multiple departments tried to arrest Korbe in a traffic stop.

"Finding all the narcotics and what not, that's when the fight began. And he tried to flee, run, injuring one officer. And I think it was six or seven that eventually had to subdue him to the point where he was taken into custody," Vith said.

Vith said officers used a Taser on Korbe after he was handcuffed. "There were so many of us there, he wanted to fight. And he wasn't going to go peacefully. Even being handcuffed, he still wanted to fight," Vith said.

Korbe was charged with 33 counts, including aggravated assault, drug dealing and conspiracy. He was scheduled to be formally arraigned in that case on Thursday.

Korbe has two prior convictions. In 1996, he was sentenced to probation on drug and conspiracy charges. And in 1993, he pleaded guilty to gun and drug charges, as well as criminal trespass. Again, he got probation in those cases.

After Korbe dislocated an officer's shoulder last May during that arrest in Sharpsburg, he was released from jail on $25,000 bond.

"It's frustrating but it's part of the job, what are you going to do? I'm not the judge. I'm the guy on the front line. That's what we do. We make the arrest and take them to the judges and the judge, they're smarter than we are, they think," Vith said.

Korbe was also in court last year, but with a twist. In that case, Korbe filed for a protection from abuse order against his own mother, claiming she filed a false report against him and his wife with child protective services.

Robert and Christina Korbe have two children.

Christina Korbe could be facing charges related to the shooting, her lawyer said.

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Previous Stories:
• November 21, 2001: Pittsburgh FBI Office Named For Mt. Lebanon Native Who Died On Duty
• April 16, 2001: FBI Office To Bear Mt. Lebanon Woman's Name

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