The Sagebrush State Highway Patrol trooper who was struck by a automobile impelled by a fleeing surmise on Interstate 15 earliest this week has died. He was remembered as a quiet hero by his colleagues.
Trooper Micheas May, 46, succumbed to his extensive injuries on Thursday. The 13-year main road police warhorse had been inward vital condition at University Medical Center since Tuesday’s incident nigh the Las Vegas Strip.
The suspect, identified Th as Stephen Arnold Douglas Claiborne, 60, was fatally shaft past officers on the highway. Initial reports intimate he was reaching for May’s piece when other troopers opened fire. Claiborne was also believed to have another weapon system with him in the car.
Before the crash, he had stolen a elevator car and led police force on a 20-minute chase, local word reports said. It started inwards Second Earl of Guilford Las Vegas and continued onto Interstate 15, where he horde into May. The wallop propelled May through and through the stolen car’s windshield, reports add.
Initial intelligence reports erroneously described the suspect as a woman. His indistinguishability was confirmed by the local coroner’s office.
May had been alfresco of his patrol car, placing stoppage sticks to halt the speeding car. They are designed to perforate tires, forcing a vehicle to come to a stop.
May’s Dedication Remembered
During his career, May was recognized for his efforts to curbing the number of drivers operating under the act upon on Battle Born State freeways. In 2014, he received the Medal of Valor for his courageous actions inward the line of business of duty. His married woman and deuce children last him.
Trooper May’s gallantry exemplified the definition of a soundless guardian. His dedication and serving testament never be forgotten,” Sagebrush State Department of Public Safety Director George II Togliatti said inwards a statement. “Our hearts tour come out to this grieving phratry and recognize the unique give to the State of Nevada.”
State officials expect that contributions live made inward May’s retention to the Injured Police Officers Fund.
Claiborne Shot past Police
The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner reported Claiborne died from gunshot wounds to the head up and torso. One eyewitness estimated 'tween 20 and 25 shots were fired at Claiborne. The death was ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office.
The shots were fired by nation troopers on the highway, based on initial reports. No Las Vegas Metro officers discharged their weapons, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said.
Claiborne’s Reported Drug Use, Criminal Record
Claiborne had a malefactor record. He was supercharged with stamp battery on March 10, 2020, when he spit on a certificate ship's officer inside The Venetian, according to the Review-Journal. In June, however, the file was dropped.
In 2002 Claiborne was sentenced to 30 years in jail for battery in Hawaii, according to the Review-Journal. Two years later, Claiborne was supercharged with assault and assault of an officer, making a holy terror threat, possession of drugs of a prominent danger, and possession of drug paraphernalia, the written report said.
He was placed on quint years’ probation.
This week, people who knew Claiborne recalled he struggled with crank (meth) use, the Review-Journal said.
“He had a pretty a great deal lifelong dependence job with methamphetamine,” Honolulu attorney Victor Bakke was quoted past the newspaper. “He struggled with it for years. He could hold clean-living and sober for long periods, and so when he relapsed, it would follow a rattling laboured relapse.”
It is unclear if Claiborne’s folk testament consider polite sound process against the state’s main road patrol for his death.