Sheriff Salvatore Navarra was killed in a single-vehicle accident during a vehicle pursuit over four miles east of Clarksburg.

   As the pursuit reached speeds nearing 110 mph, Sheriff Navarra's vehicle flipped over as he took a curve. He was ejected through the windshield before being crushed by the squad car. A special deputy who was riding with Sheriff Navarra was injured in the accident but survived.

   The 18-year-old suspect was being pursued at the request of his parole officer for gasoline theft. When he was apprehended a week later hiding in the attic of his grandparents' home, he threatened authorities with a hunting knife.

   He was later sentenced to one year for resisting arrest to be served concurrently with four-month terms each for reckless driving, driving without a license and failure to obey a police officer.

   Sheriff Navarra, a Democrat from Greensburg, was in the third year of his four-year term in office as the 40th sheriff of Decatur County. He was survived by his wife, son, father and brother.

Read more on our research at Honoring Our Fallen Sheriffs.