An east Alabama sheriff’s deputy was killed Monday in a line-of-duty traffic crash.
Chambers County Sheriff Sid Lockhart identified the deputy as J’Mar Abel. He was 24.
Abel was assisting the Roanoke Police Department in a chase just after 3:30 p.m. when he lost control of his patrol vehicle – a 2017 Ford Explorer – on County Road 278 and wrecked. The crash happened about five miles south of Roanoke.
Alabama State Troopers said the SUV left the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned.
Abel was taken to Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Today was Abel’s two-year anniversary with the sheriff’s office.
“Please keep Deputy Abel’s family and friends, as well as the brothers and sisters of the sheriff’s office in your thoughts and prayers,’’ Lockhart said in a press release.
Attorney General Steve Marshall offered the following statement in response to the line of duty death of Chambers County Deputy Sheriff J’Mar Colin Abel on June 20, 2022.
Alabama Attorney Steve Marshall released this statement following Able’s death:
“At approximately 4:30pm, Deputy Abel was assisting in a vehicle pursuit of a suspect from a neighboring county when he lost control of his patrol car while rounding a curve. He lost his life in the crash. The suspect was apprehended.
“Deputy Sheriff Abel is the seventh Alabama law enforcement officer to perish in the line of duty this year, giving his all to fulfil his oath to protect and serve the public. His loss reminds us of the sacrifice that our law enforcement heroes make for us every day. We can never repay them.”
Abel is survived by his fiancée, Jasmine Gaddist, of Auburn, and his father, Martin Abel, of Rainbow City.
“Deputy Abel’s loss is an indescribable tragedy for the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, his local community and the state of Alabama,’’ said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. “We join the rest of the law enforcement community in mourning the loss of this true profession and devoted public servant.”
