MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE 12/10/2021 - A Shelby County Grand Jury indicted a man on several charges in a drunk driving crash that killed a Memphis Police officer in March.
The Shelby County District Attorney General said 54-year-old Robert Earl Jackson is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and drunken driving in the death of 31-year-old Officer Nicholas Blow. Jackson is being held on $100,000 bond.
Investigators said Officer Blow was leaving his shift about 10:00 p.m. March 8, 2021, when Jackson’s truck broadsided the officer’s car on Raines Road. The Officer was leaving the Raines Station Precinct in Whitehaven. Blow was taken to the hospital and died about five hours later.
Investigators said Jackson’s BAC measured .201. They said he had a prior DUI conviction in Mississippi.
Officer blow joined MPD in 2018 and had served more than six years in the Army, including two employments in Iraq.
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3/12/2021 - 1:05 p.m. - Just minutes after announcing they were looking for Robert Earl Jackson, Memphis Police said he was taken into custody.
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3/12/2021 - 12:45 p.m. Memphis Police have issued an arrest warrant for 54-year-old Robert Earl Jackson in the death of MPD Officer Nicholas Blow, who was killed in a crash Monday night.
Investigators said the results of Jackson's Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) have returned, and showed he was intoxicated at more than twice the legal limit when he was driving and hit Officer Blow, who was leaving the Raines Precinct.
Jackson is not in custody, and police are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.
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3/9/2021 - 1:40 p.m. - Memphis Police have identified the officer who was killed in a crash Monday night as 31-year-old Nicholas Blow.
Blow had been with the Memphis Police Department since October 2018. He was with the U.S. Army for 8 years, and was the father to a two-month-old child.
The driver of the other vehicle is in the hospital in non-critical condition. Charges have not been filed, and the investigation continues.
Tuesday, crash investigators had Raines blocked off to traffic has they reconstructed the crash scene. People who drive in that area told Local 24 News speeding is a problem on Raines.
"People drive up and down here like crazy. I don't know how people stop at that red light there. They go so fast," said driver Kristy Bennetson.
"Some people drive on the road like they are on the expressway, so it is a problem," said driver Betty Armstead.
"It could have been anybody. It would have been sad for anyone pulling out and getting killed - that is not good. I think people need to slow down," said driver Destiny Fields.
In a tweet, Memphis police said, "Our hearts are heavy, and we pray for Officer Blow's family throughout this difficult time."
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6:05 a.m. - A Memphis police officer was killed Monday night in a crash in Whitehaven.
According to MPD, the officer was leaving the Raines Station parking lot around 10:15 when he was hit by another vehicle.
The officer was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but later died from his injuries.
The identity of the officer has not been released at this time.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the officer was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition and has since been detained. Charges are pending.
This is an ongoing investigation.