Russell Miller

Police Officer Russell Miller was struck by a drunk driver while making a traffic stop at 1:18 a.m. on westbound Schaefer Avenue east of Central Avenue.

During the stop, Officer Miller was walking from his cruiser toward the driver of a pickup truck when the drunk driver struck him from behind, throwing him into the bed of the pickup truck. After the collision, the drunk fled the scene but was arrested a short time later after crashing into a telephone pole.

The driver of the pickup truck flagged down another passing patrol car for assistance. Officer Miller was flown to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead approximately ten hours after the incident.

The 21-year-old suspect was charged with second-degree murder and felony hit and run. He was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run and sentenced to 15 years.