NEVADA, March 28, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — More details have been revealed about the man suspected of the fatal shooting of a Nevada Highway Patrol officer on Friday morning.
Sgt. Ben Jenkins, 47, was shot and killed moments after he stopped to offer assistance to a motorist stopped at 5:54 a.m. on U.S. 93 near Ely.
“During this contact, the motorist opened fire on Sgt. Jenkins, who was struck and killed,” Col. Daniel Solow, Nevada Highway Patrol, said at a Friday afternoon news conference.
The motorist stole Jenkins’ uniform and patrol car, Solow said. After a search lasting nearly four hours, suspect John Dabritz, 65, was located near the crashed patrol car and was taken into custody.
After being medically cleared, Dabritz was booked into the White Pine County Detention Center, a 40-bed facility in Ely, Nev., where he remains in custody. The exact charges in the case will be determined pending further investigation, Solow said.
Multiple Utah and Nevada agencies helped in the search. The patrol car and suspect ultimately were found near Cherry Creek, a small town about 100 miles from the site where Jenkins was killed, Solow said.
Dabritz has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1973, Solow said. He did not reveal the nature of the offenses.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal conducted an interview with Haydee Dabritz, the ex-wife of John Dabritz, who characterized her ex ” … a mentally ill man with a history of alcoholism who ‘seemed like he had gone completely off the rails’ in recent days,” the article says.
Jenkins was a respected law enforcement professional, a husband, a father of four and the grandfather of five, a NHP statement says.
“He was just doing his Highway Patrol job,” Solow said. “He saw motorist stop at the side of the road, in remote area of the state and he stopped to check on his well being.”
The fatal shooting came “almost immediately” after Jenkins stopped, Solow said.
“Our hearts go out to the Jenkins family, and my heart goes out to all of my troopers,” he said. “This is the worst tragedy that can happen in a law enforcement officer’s career, to lose one of our own, to lose someone we know, that we were with, that is dedicated to serving others. It’s devastating to all of us on the Highway Patrol.
“The outpouring of support from our community has been tremendous. throughout the state and across the nation. We’ve received messages of support from all parts of this country and that’s very overwhelming as well.”
Three different bank accounts have been established to help Jenkins’ family. They are lare the Injured Police Officer’s Fund, as well as accounts at Wells Fargo Bank (account number 5906636682) and Nevada State Bank (account number 5795937738).
Details concerning a memorial service for Jenkins are pending. Gephardt Daily will have more information as details become available.
This is the result of these mentally ill who should really be locked up in a facility for life. They should not be allowed to wander around in society they are dangerous and I can almost guarantee he was on Meth also. God Bless the poor officer and his family. This guy needs to be hung I don’t want to pay for his healthcare and eveything else for the rest of his life. He is trash.
My heart breaks for Sgt Jenkins’ family. I don’t believe I had the honor of meeting him, but I pray for his soul & the healing of the hearts of his family & friend’s.
Every time a police officer, Sheriff/deputies, & State Trooper heads out, he & his family know he might not make it back. However, one cannot live life afraid. Sgt Jenkins had no hesitation about going to the aid of someone needing his assistance. God bless him.