Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 11 years, 0 months, 14 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 6th District - Gresham
District of Incident (Present Day): 006 - Gresham
Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile
Age at Time of Death: 39
Timeline
Date of Birth: 11 May 1958
Date of Appointment: 11 Aug 1986
Date of Incident: 006 - Gresham
End of Watch: 25 Aug 1997
Date of Interment: 28 Aug 1997
Interment Details
Cemetery: Oak Woods Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-8
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 8
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 4, Line 21
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2-W: 21
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: Unknown
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman David C. Evans, Star #9398, aged 39 years, was an 11 year, 0 month, 14 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 6th District – Gresham.
On August 25, 1997, at 12:20 a.m., Officer Evans and his partner, Patrolman Estella Johnson, age 33, were responding to fire department 10-1 call at 7933 South Vernon Avenue. While en route to the scene the officer were heading Eastbound on 79th Street when a pedestrian ran onto the overpass over the Dan Ryan Expressway in front of the squad car. Officer Johnson was driving and swerved to avoid hitting the pedestrian in the street. The squad car then swerved again to avoid a second group of pedestrians on the sidewalk. The car then struck a curb about 12 inches high causing the squad car to overturn and strike the guardrail and fencing next to the entrance to the Chicago Transit Authority’s 79th Street Red Line station. The momentum of the squad car broke through guardrail and fencing and the car fell 25 feet onto the northbound lanes of the expressway, landing on its roof. Officer Johnson was transported to Christ Hospital and Medical Center with several broken bones anrecovered from her injuries. Officer Evans sustained serious injuries including cranialcerebrial and was also transported to Christ Hospital and Medical Center by CFD Ambulance #24 where he was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Barrett at 1:39 a.m. on August 25, 1997.
The incident began when paramedics were trying to treat a man with cuts to his wrist when the man became hostile and threatening. When the man heard paramedics call for police assistance, he began to run.
Officer Evans’ was waked at Leak and Sons Funeral Home located at 7838 South Cottage Grove Avenue. His funeral mass was held at the Apostolic Church of God located at 6320 South Dorchester Avenue. He was laid to rest on August 28, 1997 in Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 East 67th Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman David C. Evans, born May 11, 1958, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on August 11, 1986. He earned 15 Honorable Mentions during his career.
Officer Evans was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his wife, Micheline (nee King) and children: Brandon Willie B. King, age 12, Burgundy La’Shen King, age 15 and Ashlee Denise Evans, age 9.
Incident Recorded Under Chicago Police Department RD #B535210.
On November 6, 1997, Officer Evans’ star was retired by Superintendent Matt L. Rodriguez and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 1121 South State Street. In 2000, Chicago Police Headquarters moved to a new facility at 3510 South Michigan Avenue, Officer Evans’ Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.
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