Dallas Officer Dies After Being Struck By Suspected Drunk Driver
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Dallas police officer died after he was struck by a suspected drunk driver while on a motorcycle.
According to police, officer Earl "Jamie" Givens was blocking roads for a funeral escort Saturday morning at around 5:30 a.m. on his motorcycle. Officers were escorting the body of Senior Cpl. Tyrone Andrews from Laurel Land funeral home to a place in East Texas.
During the escort, Givens was positioned to block traffic to the eastbound entrance ramp to I-20 at Bonnie View Road. As he was on his motorcycle with the emergency light on, a driver struck him.
Givens was transported to Baylor Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was a 32-year veteran with the department.
In a news conference in front of Baylor Hospital, Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall said, "We stand here today with our hearts broken." She then proceeded to describe the incident as it unfolded.
Police say driver who struck and killed Givens was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
The suspect was later identified as 25-year-old Adrian Breedlove. He is at Dallas County Jail and charged with intoxication manslaughter and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
"Senior Cpl. Givens was a 32-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department. He served in the motor unit since 2012. We are just asking you to keep the Givens family in your prayers. Keep the Dallas Police Department in your prayers. Keep the city of Dallas in your prayers," said Chief Hall.
Givens spent a lot of his time working with the Assist the Officer Foundation, raising money for officers and their families who needed it.
"It's just another facet of this profession that shows you how everything is so precious and life can be taken at any single moment by just doing the job," said Dallas Police Senior Cpl. Frederick Frazier.
Dallas District Attorney Faith Johnson released a statement on Givens' death:
"The Dallas County District Attorney's Office is saddened to learn of the death of Dallas Police Department Officer Senior Corporal Earl Jamie Givens. This senseless crash not only resulted in the death of an on duty officer, but it also threatened the safety of our community. That very safety is what Senior Corporal Givens, and all of our first responders, fight so hard to protect, on our behalf, each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers are with Senior Corporal Givens' family and the entire Dallas Police Department. The facts surrounding this crash are still under investigation. However, any charges referred to our office in this matter will be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law."