Funeral set for Tuesday for fallen officer
Posted Jun 29, 2011 05:48:18 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – A funeral will be held Tuesday for Const. Garrett Styles, the York Regional Police officer killed when he stopped a van driven by an unlicensed 15-year-old boy.
Online tributes continue to pour in for the fallen officer. Share your condolences here.
Const. Styles, 32, was run over by a vehicle just before 5 a.m. Tuesday during a routine traffic stop on Highway 48, east of Newmarket, and pinned underneath.
The officer, a seven-year veteran of the police force, leaves behind his wife Melissa, who also works for York Regional Police, a two-and-a-half year old daughter and a nine-week old son.
York police Chief Eric Jolliffe spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon.
Chief Jolliffe said Const. Styles had pulled over a van driven by the 15-year-old male. Styles had been standing at the drivers side door when the vehicle accelerated. He was dragged around 300-meters and pinned under the vehicle.
He was taken to South Lake Regional Health Centre where he died of his injuries.
Chief Jolliffe said the teenage driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is in police custody. The other passengers inside the vehicle at the time of the collision are cooperating with police.
Earlier in the day, Chief Jolliffe stood outside police headquarters and announced the death of Const. Styles.
“It’s with deep regret that I advise you that a very competent and capable police officer of York Regional Police has succumbed to his injuries this morning as a result of a traffic stop,” Chief Jolliffe told reporters.
“The family wishes that you observe some time for them to collect themselves. I’ve had some brief discussions with them, and they very much appreciate that at this particular time, you give them the space to deal with their loss.”
Chief Jolliffe said Const. Styles came from a policing family and was a devoted officer who always had time to assist others.
