Mississippi – A Panola County constable was tragically killed in the line of duty on Thursday night after a suspect being chased by another law enforcement agency smashed into the constable’s patrol vehicle.
And reports say that his police officer son was one of the first ones at the scene.
Authorities identified the fallen hero as Constable Raye Hawkins, 57, of Courtland, Mississippi.
Reports said that Hawkins was one of only two constables on active duty in Panola County.
Two teenagers were arrested after the crash and will now face murder charges, according to WREG 3 News.
Panola County constable killed in crash; two teens charged with murder https://t.co/sW7EW5FGUK
— Mary (Cain) Mase (@monkeymase) December 13, 2019
The suspects were identified as 16-year-old Darion Dogan and 15-year-old Jonathan Taylor. Normally, the identities of juveniles are withheld due to age, but police say that both boys will face felony murder charges and will be tried as adults due to the severity of their alleged crimes.
The horrible news of the fallen constable’s death comes less than two weeks before Christmas.
WREG reports that officers with the Batesville Police Department were in pursuit of a stolen truck on Thursday afternoon, allegedly driven by the two teens in question.
NEW: This is Panola County Constable Raye Hawkins. He died in a car crash and now two teens are facing felony murder charges. Details about the what led up for the crash after the game @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/9na1C6TI7h
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) December 13, 2019
According to Panola County Sheriff’s deputies, the teens crashed into Hawkins’ patrol vehicle at Highway 35 South and Highway 6 in Batesville after a short pursuit. Authorities say Hawkins was attempting to enter the chase to help stop the stolen truck.
The truck then smashed into Hawkins’ squad car, killing him. Hawkins’ son is reportedly a police officer with another local agency. He was one of the first officers at the scene.
“It’s a hard time,” Batesville Police Chief John McCloud said. “His son was one of the first on the scene, so it’s just a heartbreaking experience.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation into the crash that killed the 57-year-old constable.
“You see so much of this happen with these young kids who, in my opinion, don’t care or don’t understand the value of human life,” District Attorney John Champion said, according to WREG.
Officials said that the teens allegedly stole the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado in Tallahatchie County on Thursday, then ran from a deputy who saw them around 2 p.m.
The chase that ensued led them to the fatal crash.
The past week has been an especially difficult one for members of law enforcement, as another five heroes were murdered just weeks before Christmas, leaving families broken and grieving during this normally cheerful time.
Detective Joseph Seals – End of Watch: December 10, 2019
Detective Joseph Seals was killed when confronting armed suspects shot and killed him in a New Jersey cemetery. Seals encountered the two subjects, a man and woman, in a van that was linked to a murder investigation in Bayonne.
According to reports from ODMP, the detective was shot in the back of the head. The two armed suspects then reportedly fled the scene in the stolen vehicle and took cover in a kosher grocery store in Jersey City.
During the standoff, the armed suspects allegedly murdered multiple victims inside the establishment and fired rounds at officers who were responding to the scene. The shootout was described as sounding like a “war zone” in the major city.
Two additional officers were wounded during the standoff. After some time, police stormed the store and eliminated the armed suspects inside.
Seals was 40-years-old and had been serving in law enforcement for nearly two decades.
He is survived by his wife and five children.
Sergeant Kaila Sullivan – End of Watch: December 10, 2019
Sgt. Sullivan was tragically killed on Tuesday after a wanted suspect trying to evade police fled the scene of a traffic stop, hitting Sullivan with his car as he sped off.
Officers in Nassau Bay, Texas made a traffic stop in the parking lot an apartment complex at 2002 San Sebastian Court around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night.
According to police, the driver was wanted on a warrant out of Harris County for assault on a family member.
When officers tried to arrest the person, he fought with them and was able to escape and get back into his vehicle.
Our deepest condolences to the entire Nassau Bay Police Department. Sgt. Kaila Sullivan was 43-years-old. She was killed just a little more than two weeks short of her 16th anniversary with the Nassau Bay Police Department. She was the sergeant over the night shift there. pic.twitter.com/V9zfD4NIvN
— HCSOHonorGuard (@HCSOHonorGuard) December 11, 2019
He sped off, hitting Sgt. Kaila Sullivan with the vehicle. EMS rushed to the scene and attempted CPR on her – but she passed away at HCA Houston Clear Lake Hospital shortly after.
Police said the driver was found a short distance from the original traffic stop.
Webster Police Department and Harris County Sheriff Office are assisting with the investigation while the agency mourns the loss of their officer.
Sgt. Sullivan was only forty-three years old and lived in Friendswood, Texas.
December 27th would have marked her 16th anniversary with the City of Nassau Bay Police Department.
“I want to personally thank all the citizens and public officials who have reached out to our department with thoughts and prayers,” said Police Chief Tim Cromie.
Sgt. Sullivan was the second Houston area officer murdered in just three days.
Sergeant Christopher Brewster – End of Watch : December 7, 2019
Sergeant Christopher Brewster was murdered Saturday evening by a man who had been reported for assault, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Police officials the 32-year-old officer was shot just before 6 p.m. on December 7.
This is Sergeant Christopher Brewster, 32. He graduated from the HPD Academy in November 2010. In nine years, he was assigned to patrol and Gang and Major Offenders Divisions. He promoted in February 2019 and was assigned to Eastside Patrol. EOW: 12-7-19. #hounews pic.twitter.com/ZUaE7EnEv6
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) December 8, 2019
At the press briefing, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told reporters that a call came in from a female victim who reported that her boyfriend was assaulting her and was armed with two firearms.
When police got there, they didn’t find the couple.
Sgt. Brewster holding my Partner’s son, my godson Bryson.
I never knew that yesterday evening when you checked by the Fiesta while we were working the Comida Food Drive,that would be the last time I would see you again. Sgt. C. Brewster we love and miss you. ?????#HPDStrong pic.twitter.com/X2QNic0h7T— GHPAL Officer Michon (@MichonMegan) December 8, 2019
Acevedo said Brewster spotted them three streets away on Houston’s east side. When he went to exit his vehicle, he was shot at and hit multiple times.
Acevedo said even though Brewster was fatally wounded, he called and reported the shooting, allowing other officers to contain the area.
LISTEN: HPD Chief @ArtAcevedo hailed the late Sgt. Chris Brewster a hero after he radioed a critical suspect description that helped officers later catch the gunman, despite being shot several times #hounews
Here's what he said: pic.twitter.com/hjLBKsiO6T
— Jay R. Jordan (@JayRJordan) December 8, 2019
“Although he was mortally wounded, he had the presence of mind to draw his pistol out of his holster to protect himself in case the suspect came up and he also had the presence of mind and courage to put out and broadcast suspect information that was critical for the responding units,” Acevedo said.
About a half-hour after the shooting, which was captured on body cameras, Brewster succumbed to his injuries and died.
At first, Acevedo said Brewster wasn’t wearing his vest. He later confirmed that the officer was.
“What people will see is a coward who took the life of a hero,” Acevedo said.
Acevedo said his murderer was 25-year-old Arturo Solis, who fled on foot.
Houston Police say this man, 25-year-old Arturo Solis, shot Sgt. Chris Brewster in the street before taking off on foot into the neighborhood, jumping fences and allegedly ditching a gun. #KHOU11 pic.twitter.com/gBhGoTYaYo
— Matt Dougherty (@MattKHOU) December 8, 2019
Officers rushing to the area saw him jumping fences. When he was caught near a school, they say he was armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
Acevedo later tweeted that police recovered both firearms and other evidence discarded by the suspect. On Sunday, he was charged with capital murder and is behind held without bond.
Sergeant Brewster was 32-years-old and had served with the Houston force for nine years. He is survived by his wife, parents, and three sisters.
Officer Stephen Carr – End of Watch: December 7, 2019
On Saturday, we also lost an officer from Fayetteville, Arkansas.
That night, officers reported hearing gunshots behind the Fayetteville Police Department.
Police from inside the department responded immediately and heard additional gunshots. When they got into the back lot, they found an armed suspect directly behind the police department.
That suspect was later identified as London T. Phillips, 35, of Fayetteville.
Police said Phillips and the officers fired their weapons at each other, striking the suspect repeatedly.
Moments later, officers located Officer Stephen Carr shot inside his patrol vehicle.
Just three minutes later, Fayetteville Fire Department and Central EMS arrived on scene and began life-saving efforts for both the officer and suspect. Police said both the wounded officer and suspect succumbed to their injuries and died at the scene.
Police say that the evidence shows that Officer Carr was ambushed and executed while sitting in his patrol vehicle.
Officer Carr had served with the Fayetteville Police Department for 2-1/2 years and was assigned to the Bicycle Unit.
Agent Billy Fred Clardy III – End of Watch: December 6, 2019
On Friday December 6, America lost a U.S. Army veteran and a tremendous police officer from Huntsville, Alabama.
Billy Fred Clardy III, a husband and father of five, was shot and killed in the line of duty. He was only 48-years-old.
According to police, the shooting happened during a drug task force operation around 4 p.m. Friday near the corner of Oakwood Avenue and Levert Street Northeast.
Police said Brown drew a gun and shot Clardy. Clardy was wearing a bulletproof vest, but the bullet went through the top of the vest and into the officer’s heart.
They spent more than an hour trying to save his life at Huntsville Hospital, but were unable to.
On Saturday afternoon, Huntsville police Chief Mark McMurray publicly announced the officer’s name at the Fallen Officer Memorial outside the police department’s headquarters.
Clardy became a Huntsville police officer in 2005, then joined the Madison-Morgan County HIDTA Drug Task Force, known as the STAC team, in 2018.
Prior to that, he worked for the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayetteville Police Department in Tennessee and was also was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army.
“Billy Clardy was more than a Hunsville hero,” McMurray said. “He was an American hero.”
According to McMurray, Clardy had received dozens of awards during his time at HPD, including 19 certificates of commendation, two outstanding unit citations and eight letters of appreciation.
During his 14 years at the department, he had been a patrolman, community resource officer and training officer among his other assignments.
During his time in the military, Clardy received the National Defense Medal, Army Service Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle described Clardy as a dedicated community advocate who cared deeply for the local homeless population.
In speaking about him, he called him a “good friend” and “special gift” to the city.
“Our whole community is feeling the hurt of losing one of our own,” Battle said. “Billy Clardy is someone who will be missed … someone who set a standard for us as a community.”
With these heroes being taken from their families, friends and co-workers just days before the holidays, we have a message for the media who glanced right over their deaths: their lives mattered.
Help us pay tribute to these fallen heroes… and say a prayer for our country.
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