Dec 5, 2007 10:56 pm US/Eastern
Thousands Attend Memorial For Fallen Deputies
Sheriff: 2 Palm Beach Co. Deputies Made 'Fatal Mistake'
$25,000 Reward For Info Leading To Arrest Of Second Suspect
Click PLAY On The Video Player To Listen To The Police Radio Communications During The Incident
WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ―
Law enforcement officers from across South Florida paid their final respects Wednesday to two Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies who died during a police pursuit last week.
The tragic accident occurred when Deputies Donta Manuel and Jonathan Wallace made a last minute decision retrieve spikes they had laid out on a road to puncture the tires of the stolen car.
"When they both ran into the road to remove the spikes, they were struck by a canine patrol vehicle that was pursuing the car thieves," said Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
Bradshaw said the two deputies were killed "instantaneously."
The public memorial for Manuel and Wallace was held at the Sound Advice Amphitheater; Governor Crist was among among the speakers eulogizing the fallen officers.
Tuesday evening, candlelight vigil and memorial were held at Pahokee High School.
The driver of the canine patrol car that hit them, Gregorio Fernandez, 39, was treated for a concussion and a broken arm after the accident. A trainee in the car, Usbaldo Lara Jr., 23, was treated for minor injuries and Fernandez's police dog was not hurt.
Records show that Wallace had been shot on duty in August, but was saved by his bulletproof vest. He was engaged to be married soon and had been looking for a house to buy with his fiancée, said Pahokee Mayor J.P. Sasser. He always wanted to be a police officer, Sasser said.
"Jonathan was always up at City Hall volunteering," he said. "He has always been involved in our community. He's always tried to do things that would make a positive contribution. We were very proud of him."
Sasser described Wallace and Manuel as "very close." He said Manuel, a father of two young children, was going to be Wallace's best man at his wedding.
Nineteen-year-old Ernie Daley Junior was arrested for driving the stolen car the deputies were trying to stop on a dark rural road in the Everglades. Daley is charged with one count of grand theft, one count of fleeing and eluding causing death, and two counts of aggravated manslaughter of a law enforcement officer by culpable negligence.
His attorney, Steven Sessa, called the incident "a very tragic accident" and said he would be investigating how the crash occurred and what mistakes were made.
Authorities are still trying to determine the identity of the remaining suspect and are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest of the second suspect.
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