On September 9, 1989, Officer Michael McNew was struck by a vehicle that was fleeing other officers.
On September 9th, David Gary had assaulted his wife then escorted her to the hospital. At the hospital Gary created a disturbance and scuffled with a hospital security guard then left the hospital. A complaint was filed against Gary. Officers located him in a vehicle and attempted to stop him. He accelerated continuing east on Manchester and forced another police vehicle off of the road. Officer McNew following the radio traffic pulled into the intersection of 7th and Russell with his overhead lights on at about 3:30 am. Gary's vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour when his vehicle broadsided McNew's squad car. Both vehicles burst into flames with the force of the impact nearly welding the vehicles together. Other officers pulled both Officer McNew and Gary from the wreckage. Officer McNew succumbed to his wounds at the scene but Gary recovered. Gary was convicted of First Degree Murder. In the history of the St Louis Police Department he was the first officer to be killed by being deliberately run down by a vehicle. The suspect was charged with first degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, two counts of assault and resisting arrest. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and armed criminal action in July 1990 and in August 1990 he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Officer McNew was assigned to the 3rd District and had been with the agency for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and two children. Interred: Calvary Cemetery, and Mausoleum Saint Louis, MO.
Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial