Holly MatkinChambers County, AL – Chambers County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputy J’Mar Colin Abel died in the line of duty on Monday after he lost control of his patrol SUV while assisting a neighboring department with a motor vehicle pursuit.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said the 24-year-old deputy was helping the Roanoke Police Department (RPD) with a chase at approximately 4:30 p.m. on June 20 when he lost control of his 2017 Ford Explorer while negotiating a curve on County Road 278, the Yellow Hammer reported.
“My understanding was the police department was chasing someone and one of my deputies right around the Georgia line spiked the car that they were chasing and managed to get them stopped,” Chambers County Sheriff Sid Lockhart told WIAT.
“Then they got to looking and Deputy Abel hadn’t shown up so they called him on the radio and no answer, and so they went back up there and located him in a curve,” Sheriff Lockhart said.
Deputy Abel suffered severe injuries in the single-vehicle crash.
The suspect involved in the chase was ultimately apprehended, Marshall said.
Deputy Abel was rushed to the Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange, Georgia, where he was pronounced dead, the CCSO said in a press release on Tuesday.
Marshall said Deputy Abel died on the day of his second anniversary with the CCSO, the Yellow Hammer reported.
“Alabama’s law enforcement community is saddened tonight to learn of the loss of Chambers County Deputy Sheriff J’Mar Colin Abel, who gave his life while protecting the public,” the Alabama attorney general said. “Deputy Sheriff Abel, age 24, a two-year veteran of the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, was marking his second anniversary with the Sheriff’s Office on the day he lost his life.”
The CCSO asked the public to keep the young deputy’s friends, family, and the department in their thoughts and prayers in the wake of their loss.
Marshall said Deputy Abel gave “his all to [fulfill] his oath to protect and serve the public,” the Yellow Hammer reported.
“His loss reminds us of the sacrifice that our law enforcement heroes make for us every day,” he added. “We can never repay them.”
Deputy Abel leaves behind his fiancé, Jasmine, and his father, Martin, according to WBRC.
“His fiancé was seven months pregnant with their child,” Sheriff Lockhart told WIAT.
The young deputy was also helping raise his four-year-old stepchild, according to the sheriff.
“He was a very nice young man,” he told WIAT. “He’s always been so professional and did an outstanding job.”
RIP. Alabama Deputy Sheriff J’Mar Colin Abel was killed in a vehicle accident while assisting with a pursuit. He is survived by his father and fiancé. #rip #hero #DeputySheriffJMarAbel #ChambersCountySheriffsOffice #eow #lawenforcement #thinblueline #BlueLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/izkdUx7R5I
— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) June 22, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of @alabamaccso Deputy Sheriff J’Mar Colin Abel who was killed in the line of duty. May God grant him eternal rest. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/EfZRJRZzP6
— NYPD Chaplains Unit (@NYPDchaplains) June 22, 2022
My deepest condolences and sincerest sympathies go out to the men and women of the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office for the loss of Deputy J’Mar Abel @alabamaccso
Served faithfully. Sacrificed valiantly. Remembered eternally.#ThinBlueLine 💙 #FallenFINEST pic.twitter.com/TjhTtO5PaF
— East Coast Alert (@EastCoastAlert) June 21, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Chambers County Sheriff’s Office Deputy J’Mar Colin Abel, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
