Melissa Marie Sayles
Name: Melissa Marie Sayles
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Race: European-American/White
Date: 01/19/2004
Location: E 30th St & Mahaska Ave
Des Moines, Iowa, 50317
County: Polk
Agency: Polk County Sheriff's Office
Cause of Death: Vehicle
Intended Use of Force: Vehic/Purs
Media summary: Deputy Cass Bollman tried to stop William Pinegar for speeding shortly after 11 p.m. on Des Moines' northeast side. The ensuing chase went through the east side where the SUV broadsided a car and hit a tree. Melissa Sayles, a passenger in the SUV, was ejected and died at the scene. Another passenger was injured. Police alleged that it appeared Sayles had shot at deputies during the chase. Pinegar was convicted of vehicular homicide, eluding an officer and driving a car without the owner's consent. The appeals court reversed the eluding conviction because it wasn't proven that Bollman was in uniform during the chase, which is required to find someone guilty.
Unique ID: 3098
News article: Link
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