Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 24, 1979
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 1805
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: July 24, 1979
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Police Officer William Askew suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a juvenile suspect following a vehicle pursuit and foot pursuit.
The pursuit started after he attempted to stop a stolen vehicle with two juvenile occupants. He pursued the vehicle for 33 blocks until it crashed in the area of 8741 SW 86th Street. He then pursued one of the subjects on foot and captured him after a brief struggle. He returned the boy to his cruiser when he suddenly collapsed.
The juvenile was charged with third-degree murder as a result of Officer Askew's death.