Published Thursday, May 7, 2009 | 7:02 a.m.
Updated Thursday, May 7, 2009 | 3:07 p.m.
Officer James Manor
Calvin Darling
Officer killed in collision
A Metro Police officer killed on duty while responding to a domestic violence call in western Las Vegas early today was identified by Sheriff Douglas Gillespie as 28-year-old James Manor.
Officer Manor was one of two policemen going east on Flamingo Road responding to a domestic violence call when a red pickup truck going west and turning left at Ravenwood Drive slammed into one of the police cars, Gillespie said.
The pickup's driver, 45-year-old Calvin Darling of Las Vegas, was taken to University Medical Center's Trauma Unit for treatment and has been charged with felony driving under the influence with death, Gillespie said.
This afternoon, Darling was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a felony charge of DUI alcohol causing death and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, detention center records show. He is in a medical holding cell because he received injuries during the crash, said Officer Bill Cassell. The DUI charge does not have bail.
Darling has no prior arrests in Metro Police jurisdiction, Gillespie said. Darling's 72-hour hearing is scheduled for Monday, said Michael Sommermeyer, spokesman for the Clark County District Courts.
The collision occurred at 12:40 a.m. Thursday as Officer Manor, in a black and white 2005 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser with red lights flashing and siren on, drove to a domestic violence call, Gillespie said during a media conference.
Police received a 911 call from a 14-year-old girl who said her father was attacking her, police said. The father was not at the home when officers arrived, police said.
Manor tried to avoid the collision with the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, but could not avoid it. "This was a violent collision," Gillespie said. The speeds of both vehicles are not known at this time.
A preliminary police investigation revealed that the Chevrolet failed to yield the right of way to the police cruiser, a report said. Officer Manor tried to avoid a collision with the Chevrolet by braking and steering to the right. The left front of the patrol car struck the right front of the Chevrolet, causing the pickup truck to roll over and come to rest on its roof in the desert southeast of the intersection.
The officer was trapped inside the cruiser for almost an hour before emergency medical crews could extract him and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Gillespie said. He was taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Flamingo Road was shut down in both directions until about 9:15 a.m. between South Tenaya Way and Rainbow Boulevard as traffic investigators worked at the scene.
Officers arrived at UMC's emergency entrance all morning, many with tears in their eyes, to pay respect to Manor who has been on the force for 1 1/2-years.
Flags flew at half staff at University Medical Center today after 13 patrol cars escorted the officer's body from the hospital to the Clark County Coroner's Office on Shadow Lane.
The last time a Metro Police officer was killed in the line of duty was about three years ago and involved Sgt. Henry Prendes, 37, a 14-year veteran on the force, Gillespie said. Prendes was also responding to a domestic violence call in the southwest valley when he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Amir Rashid Crump.
"It was hard then and it's hard now," Gillespie said.
There have been 15 Metro Police officers killed in the line of duty.
Manor is not married, but he is a native of Las Vegas and has an extended family including a mother, brothers and sisters, Gillespie said. He also has a young child.
Manor graduated from Clark High School.
The Police Employees Assistance Program, created by the late Sheriff John Moran, is assisting officers, the family and anyone else who is dealing with the officer's death, Gillespie said.
The Injured Police Officers Fund has established an account for anyone who would like to make a donation to the family of Officer James Manor of the Metro Police Department who was killed in the line of duty on May 7, 2009. The account information is: Officer Down Account for James Manor; Nevada State Bank Account # 602029555.
This collision remains under investigation. It is the 32nd fatal traffic accident in Metro Police jurisdiction this year.
