Gassville, Arkansas Officer gunned down by teenage nazi
Officer Jim Sell
Gassville Police Department
Arkansas
End of Watch: Saturday, February 4, 2006
Biographical Info
Age: 63
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, February 4, 2006
Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Officer Jim Sell was shot and killed during a traffic stop.
Officer Sell had stopped a vehicle driven by a violent assault suspect that police had been searching for. The assault occurred at a New Bedford, Massachusetts bar during the evening of February 1st, or early morning of February 2nd. The suspect struck two patrons with a small hatchet and then shot and wounded both men and a third man, before escaping. The hatchet was found outside the bar, but the firearm had not been located.
The suspect, who eluded a nationwide manhunt for 1,400 miles and two days, was pulled over in the parking lot of a motel by Officer Sell at approximately 1430 hours. The suspect immediately opened fire, striking Officer Sell once in the arm and twice in the head, killing him.
The suspect then sped off and a motel worker called 911 to report the shooting. The worker gave police a detailed description of the suspect's vehicle. A state trooper spotted the suspect's car on Arkansas State Highway 201 and a high-speed pursuit followed.
Officers deployed spike strips in an attempt to stop the vehicle. When the car struck the strips a short time later, the suspect lost control and crashed into a parked car, coming to a rest facing pursuing officers. The suspect then shot and killed his female passenger.
Still seated, the suspect next opened fire on police through his window. Officers from the Arkansas State Police and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office returned fire, striking the suspect twice in the head, killing him.
The Gassville Police Department has three full-time, two part-time, and two reserve officers.
Agency Contact Information
Gassville Police Department
204 S. School
Gassville, AR 72635
Phone: (870) 435-6439
