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Sidney Clarence Crews
- Apr. 25, 1929 -
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(284)
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Resided: |
FL, USA
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Born: | Aug. 12, 1885 |
Fallen: | Apr. 25, 1929 |
Race/Sex: | Caucasian Male / 43 yrs. of age |
| Agency |
Dept: | Miami Police Dept. - FL
400 NW 2nd Avenue Miami, FL
33128 USA (305)603-6640 |
County: | Miami-Dade |
Dept. Type: | Municipal/Police |
Hero's Rank: | Patrolman |
Sworn Date: | 1921 |
FBI Class: | Homicide - Gun |
Weapon Class: | Firearm |
Agency URL: | Click Here
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Bio: Sidney Clarence Crews was born Aug. 12, 1885, in Baker County, FL. He was one of 11 children. His family seemed to have deep roots in Florida as the officer's death certificate indicates that his father, Roger C. Crews, and his mother, Mary Thompson Crews, were both born in Baker County, FL. (west of Duval County and south of the FL/GA state line).
Sidney Crews married Creassie Taylor of Baker County and the couple had seven children. Crews had little formal education as was true of many rural Floridians of that day. While in Baker County, Crews worked in a saw mill, as a carpenter, and cut cross-ties for the railroad. He was affiliated with the Woodmen of the World in Lake Butler.
Crews moved his family to Miami in 1921 from Baker County and joined the police force shortly after his arrival. He was encouraged to come to Miami and become a police officer by his brother, Walt, who had been a Miami officer for four years and by a relative, Miami Capt. Hardie Bryant. Crews was 36 when he became a Miami police officer.
Officer Crews wore badge #7 and was first assigned to patrol the "Negro District" and after two years was transferred to the city jail. At 6'2" and 220 lbs., Sidney Crews was quite capable of handling any unruly inmates. |
Survived by: |
Creassie Taylor Crews - Wife
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seven children: Eula, 20, Harper Lee, 18, Ranzo, 15, Lloyd, 11, Emily, 10, Loyie Ruth, 8, and Alva, 5 (the only child born in Miami). Sidney's brother, Walt, remained on the Miami force until retirement in the 1940's.
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Fatal Incident Summary
Offender: |
Doe W.B. Wilson
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Location: |
FL
USA
Thu. Apr. 25, 1929
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Summary: |
Miami police officer Sid Crews, 44, an eight-year veteran, was shot with his own gun inside the city jail by a "crazed Negro" on April 25, 1929. Crews died the next day while his assailant, who was shot by another police officer, died later the same day. He became the 11th City of Miami officer killed in the line of duty.
Officer Crews had worked as a "wagon driver" (transporting prisoners to the city jail) for two years on the night shift, from 11:00PM to 7:00AM. Around 2:15AM on Wednesday, April 25, 1929, Crews and Lonnie Godbee, the "police riot motor car chauffeur," entered the "negro section of the Miami city jail" to kill rats with air rifles. Several inmates had complained about the rats. Crews and Godbee were followed by Miami Detective John M. Driggers while C.H. Belcher, jailer, "stood at the door with the keys."
Both Crews and Godbee were armed with air rifles but, contrary to jail regulations, Crews also had his police revolver in a holster. Crews shot a rat with his air rifle but the wounded rat then ran under a table. As Crews stooped to look under the table, an inmate, Doe W.B. Wilson, who was apparently sleeping on the table, grabbed the officer's revolver from its holster and started shooting. The first shot, aimed toward the door, narrowly missed Belcher. Two subsequent bullets struck Crews. Before the crazed negro could fire a third shot Driggers drew his weapon and fired twice from behind a post. (Miami Herald, 4251929) Detective Driggers....was in another tier of cells....(and) ran into the corridor and shot the negro in the head after seeing Crews lying on the floor and Wilson standing over him, gun in hand. (Miami Daily News, 4251929) One bullet shattered Crews right arm while a second lodged in his right hip. Wilson had been shot in the head. Both were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Crews died at 5:00AM the following day (April 25). The gunshot wound to the hip had injured the abdominal organs. "Complications, including general poisoning" resulting from the abdominal wound, caused his death. The death certificate indicated that Crews died of hemorrhage and shock. Wilson died at 2:00PM the same day (April 24).
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Disposition: |
Died by gunshot to the head during incident . . . |
Source: |
Book Excerpted in part or in whole from Dr. Wilbanks book-
FORGOTTEN HEROES: POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN DADE COUNTY, FL, 1895-1995
by William Wilbanks
Louisville: Turner Publications
1996
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Last Updated: May. 29, 2019 |
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