Newport News Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, January 8, 1970
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 1 month
Badge Number: 67
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 8, 1970
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Wallace Nesbitt was shot and killed while arresting a man for writing a bad check in the Sherwood Shopping Center in a hobby stort. While handcuffing the suspect the man suddenly spun around, grabbed Patrolman Nesbitt's service weapon, and shot him. He then shot the Hobby store owner in the abdomen leaving him seriously wounded.
The suspect, 24, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years. He was convicted of maiming the store owner and received an additional 16 years. He was paroled in December of 1982. He was only out of prison a few days when he was arrested in Newport News for possession of heroin. For violating his parole he was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. He was convicted of possession of heroin and sentenced to 8 years.
Patrolman Nesbitt was a Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Newport News Police Department for 2 years. He was survived by his expectant wife, who later gave birth to a son. Patrolman Nesbitt's son went on to serve as a police officer in the Newport News Police Department.