Man indicted in crash that killed Dallas police officer who was directing traffic
Phillip Mabry Jr., 32, faces up to life in prison if convicted on the charge.
Mitchell Penton(Dallas Police Department / Courtesy)
10:29 AM on May 10, 2021 CDT
A Dallas County grand jury indicted a man last week accused of killing Dallas police Officer Mitchell Penton in February.
Phillip Mabry Jr., 32, was indicted May 3 on a felony charge of intoxication manslaughter causing the death of a peace officer. The charge carries a punishment range of five years to life in prison.
Penton was directing traffic Feb. 13 after a wreck on northbound U.S. Highway 75 near Walnut Hill Lane when Mabry drove his vehicle into Penton’s squad car. The force of the crash pushed the squad car, fatally striking Penton, police said.
Three Irving police officers nearly hit by suspected drunk driver
Body camera video captured the moment a suspected drunk driver barreled into an Irving police squad car.
IRVING, Texas - Body camera video captured the moment a suspected drunk driver barreled into an Irving police squad car. Three police officers were nearly hit.
Dash cam video shows a field sobriety test after a minor accident.
The other video is a body cam from a nearby officer whose vehicle blocked the crash scene. She was able to warn fellow officers her vehicle was about to get hit. She then ran to check on the 28-year-old driver who police say later admits to having three or more beers.
A good deed in the line of duty and Dallas loses an officer
The deadly mix of alcohol, a motor vehicle and disregard for danger and consequences.
Steve Martindale pays his respects to fallen Dallas Police officer Mitchell Penton at the DPD Northeast Patrol Division building on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, in Dallas. Officials say Penton was struck by an intoxicated driver around 1:45 a.m. on Saturday when Penton was working a crash scene in the northbound lanes of the North Central Expressway at Walnut Hill Lane. (Lynda M. González/The Dallas Morning News)(Lynda M. González / Staff Photographer)
We’ve heard this tragic story far too often. A good Samaritan performing a good deed or just an innocent bystander perishes when a person under the influence of alcohol gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.