Bio & Incident Details
Age: 51
Tour: 2 years, 5 months
Badge # 16-1
Cause: Vehicle pursuit
Incident Date: 5/29/1961
Weapon: Automobile
Suspect: Charged
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Sheriff Salvatore Navarra was killed in an automobile accident during a vehicle pursuit over two miles east of Clarksburg.
As the pursuit reached speeds of over 110 mph, Sheriff Navarra's vehicle flipped over as he took a curve. He was ejected through the windshield before being crushed by his squad car.
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 an attic, he threatened authorities with a hunting knife. He was taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving without a license and failure to obey a police officer.
Sheriff Navarra had served with the Decatur County Sheriff's Department for nearly 2½ years.
