EUPORA — A Eupora police officer who died while trying to stop a vehicle believed to have been used in a failed bank robbery has been identified.
Officer Keith Crenshaw was placing spike strips along U.S. Highway 82 in front of the suspects’ car Wednesday, state officials said.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Criss Turnipseed said the driver swerved to avoid the spikes and hit Crenshaw, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Turnipseed said the car then hit a metal utility pole.
One of three men in the car was killed; the two others were injured. Authorities said Frank Maye, 33, of Orlando, Fla., was in intensive care at a Tupelo hospital, while Brandon Johnson, 26, also of Orlando, was released from a hospital following treatment and is being held on armed robbery charges in the Grenada County Jail. Additional charges are pending, according to a statement from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Authorities said the deceased subject has not been positively identified.
Turnipseed said the incident began about 10 a.m. Wednesday when the suspects attempted to rob a Eupora bank. The car was later spotted on Highway 82 and authorities began a pursuit.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.