Nevada Highway Patrol Soldier Honored With Candlelight Vigil

Hundreds of law enforcement officers and community members gathered at Police Memorial Park on Tuesday night to honor Nevada Highway Patrol Soldier Micah May during a candlelight vigil.

“It really means a lot to me and my family to see all the support for Micah,” his wife, Joanna May, told the tearful crowd. “It’s been tough, but seeing you all here today, it helps to know that I’m not alone. “

She stayed with their two children throughout the event at the park, located at 3250 Metro Academy Way, where her husband’s patrol car was parked for people to pay their respects.

‘You will never walk alone’

Micah May, 46, died Thursday after being struck by a car on July 27 during a law enforcement pursuit on Interstate 15. The 13-year-old Highway Patrol veteran was shot while driving he was trying to deploy “stop sticks” intended to puncture the tires of a stolen vehicle. on I-15 near Sahara Avenue, according to the Highway Patrol.

After being hit, the Metropolitan Police Department transported May in a police helicopter to the University Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition until his death Thursday evening. Metro said it was the first time a department helicopter has been used to rescue a downed officer.

“I will never forget the moments we shared, like when Micah was showing Raylan how his police car works,” said Joanna May, referring to their son. “When Micah left to protect our city and keep our people safe, he would always flash his lights and sound his sirens for the children. “

The father has been described by his wife and colleagues as a funny and loyal man who never struggled to say anything about anyone.

He often spent his days off fixing things around the house with Raylan, his wife said. He read bedtime stories every night from his children from the Frog and Toad series. And while he hated being portrayed as a hero, she said he managed to save four lives after his death through organ donation.

“Joanna, you will never walk alone – I promise you,” Highway Patrol Lt. Anthony Muñoz said at the vigil. “Whether it’s T-ball games or the first few days of school. Your family has grown not only for this week, but for eternity. ”

Private Travis Smaka said a memorial service for the month of May will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Henderson Central Church. The event is open to the public.

Police pursuit

Prior to the July 27 vehicle chase, a caller reported to police that a man pointed a foot-long knife at him, stole his car and rolled over on his foot as he left the construction site where he had been. hijacked, located near Sunset Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, police said.

The carjacker has been identified as Douglas Claiborne, 60.

When Highway Patrol located Claiborne near Interstate 15 and the Speedway Boulevard exit, he took off in the stolen car, driving irregularly on the highway to avoid six sets of stop sticks that had been deployed for the slow down, Las Vegas police said.

As Micah May deployed a seventh set of stopping sticks near the Charleston Boulevard exit, Claiborne walked around the sticks and hit May with the stolen vehicle.

Claiborne continued to drive for about a mile with May lodged in the vehicle’s windshield. The soldiers managed to crash into the vehicle and stop Claiborne near the exit of Spring Mountain.

He attempted to grab May’s gun and four police officers there fired 26 shots.

May was in the car and was not hit by gunfire, but Claiborne was hit several times and pronounced dead at the scene.

“Loving husband, father”

Data on file with the FBI shows May was the second Nevada soldier to die in the line of duty in nearly three decades. He was the 12th Nevada soldier to die in recorded history.

According to a May obituary, the soldier grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, where he enjoyed the cold and sledging. In 2008, he tested for the Nevada Highway Patrol, bringing it to “sunny Las Vegas,” the obituary said.

“Micah was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend,” the obituary said.

He is survived by Joanna May and their two children, Raylan and Melody; his parents, Edwin and Katherine; and his brothers, Seth and Paul, according to the obituary.

After the central church memorial service, May will be buried at the Palm Eastern Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., at 2 p.m., according to the obituary. The burial is also open to the public, Smaka said.

Contact Alexis Ford at [email protected] or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexisdford on Twitter.