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Officer down: Detective on federal task force ambushed, murdered while working undercover operation

Officer down: Detective on federal task force ambushed, murdered while working undercover operation 1

CLEVELAND, OH –Law Enforcement Today reported earlier regarding the death of Cleveland Police Department Detective who has now been identified as James Skernivitz.  We have learned he was shot and killed while working an undercover drug operation.

Skernivitz was a twenty five year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department who was pronounced deceased at 10:30pm on September 3rd.  The preliminary cause of death is listed as gunshot wound which injured his heart and lungs, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner. 

Skernivitz had been sworn into a federal task force, Operation Legend, on September 2nd.  US Attorney General William Barr released a statement regarding the death of Skernivitz:

“Today is a very sad day for the city of Cleveland and the entire law enforcement community. Overnight, Cleveland Division of Police Detective James Skernivitz was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Detective Skernivitz was a 22-year veteran of the Cleveland Division of Police and a sworn Operation Legend task force officer assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force.

“Two weeks ago, I had the honor of visiting the unit where Detective Skernivitz was assigned. I was briefed on the critical work that he and his colleagues do to keep our streets safe from violent crime. Detective Skernivitz selflessly gave his life in this cause.

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“It takes a special kind of courage to be a police officer. Our men and women in blue put their lives on the line day after day in order to keep us safe. We will not forget Detective Skernivitz and his life of service and sacrifice. I send my heartfelt condolences to his wife, children, and family.”

Police are not releasing much information regarding the murder of Skernivitz, other than he was in his police vehicle with a man named Scott Dingess.  There has been no information released as to why the two were together other than to say the two were ambushed in Skernivitz’s vehicle.

Dingess, who was out on bond at the time of the murder, had a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2009.  Most of the cases seemed to involved drug and theft charges.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said:

“Cleveland lost one of its finest tonight in the line of duty.  We still have an ongoing investigation…We definitely need the prayers of the people in this city.  This officer was out doing what all police officers do, trying protecting the people of this city and he gave his life.  So, we ask that you give his family a little room.”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine added:

“Grand and I are heartbroken to learn of the shooting death of Det. James Skernivitz.  We offer our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues. 

In honor of his life, I’ve ordered flags lowered on state buildings and grounds in Cuyahoga County and Columbus.

Dave Yost, the Attorney General for the State of Ohio said:

“Detective Skernivitz gave his life trying to keep danger off the streets of Cleveland. This tragedy shows once again the valor and honor of the police — and that there are yet dangerous, evil men in the world who must be brought to justice.

My heart breaks for his family and I pray that in their grief, they find solace in his legacy of service and sacrifice.”

Armond Budish, the Cuyahoga County Executive said:

“My heart goes out to the family, friends and fellow police officers who knew Detective James Skernivitz. Detective Skernivitz served 28 years on the Cleveland Police Force—as an undercover officer he was on the front lines of important work against gangs.

Last night he was shot down. Police officers throughout the country put their lives on the line every day to protect us from crime and danger.

That statement should not be a flashpoint or controversial—unfortunately, these days it is. I am grateful for Detective Skernivitz’s service and I pray for his family. May he rest in peace.”

Michael Polensk, the Ward 8 Cleveland City Council Member and Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee gave his thoughts:

“On behalf of the residents of the City of Cleveland, and the residents of the Greater Collinwood community, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of veteran Detective James Skernivitz, who was brutally murdered in the line of duty last evening, September 3, 2020.

This should reinforce to all citizens, more than ever before, our collective need to support our men and women in blue, who are being vilified nationally, while at the same time, working tirelessly to safeguard our streets, our families and our businesses.

We all hope and pray that the perpetrator(s) of this violent act are apprehended and brought to justice as soon as possible. The men and women of the Cleveland Police Department are the “the thin blue line” that protect us daily. Let us never forget that. May the good Lord welcome him to paradise.

God bless his family, his brothers and sisters in the Cleveland Police Department and the City of Cleveland. God bless America.”

Cleveland Police announced that three people have been taken into custody on warrants unrelated to the shooting.  There has been no information released as to how they may be involved in this shooting.

Law Enforcement Today wishes to extend our condolences for the fallen officer and his family at this difficult time.

In the meantime in San Antonio, Texas, a police officer was stabbed in the face Friday when a shoplifting suspect rushed at him with a knife.

According to KSAT News, San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Chief William McManus confirmed that a suspect was dead, and a San Antonio police officer was hospitalized in stable condition after he was stabbed in the face following a shoplifting incident at a Northwest Side H-E-B supermarket.

ABC News reported the suspect was black.

KSAT reported the incident happened around 2:30 p.m., Friday, at an H-E-B store in the 2100 block of Fredericksburg Road.

San Antonio police officers were first notified of the incident after receiving a call for shoplifting at the store. Upon arrival, the shoplifting suspect was detained by H-E-B security and an off-duty police officer from Floresville, officials said.

The suspect was then turned over to San Antonio police. McManus told ABC News:

“The suspect was standing in front of the police vehicle going through some things in his backpack. I’m not sure what that was about.

“He stepped to his right out of the view of the COBAN (police dashboard camera system), and a second later he came back, very aggressively and very quickly, and stabbed the officer in the face. It was quite a vicious attack.”

The suspect lunged at the officer with a knife nearly 5 inches long and stabbed him in the face. He then continued to fight the SAPD officer and the off-duty officer from Floresville, according to KSAT.

The stabbed officer was passing in and out of consciousness en route to the hospital because of blood loss, McManus said. He was listed in serious condition at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

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Both of the officers fired multiple gunshots at the suspect, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, SAPD said.

The San Antonio officer was taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in serious condition, and the off-duty Floresville officer was uninjured. An H-E-B employee was also injured in the incident and was taken to another area hospital out of caution, according to store officials.

The information so far is preliminary and the investigation continues, according to McManus.

We reported on other stabbings this year of law enforcement officials, including a K-9 dog. In August, a railway police officer in Denver, Colorado was stabbed multiple times by a trespasser on railroad property.

The stabbing left the officer in critical condition from the multiple stab wounds. The officer fatally shot the suspect, described as a white man in his 50s, according to CBS4.

DPD Division Chief Ron Thomas said that before 9 a.m., the BNSF officer approached a man who was trespassing on their property, and the suspect was wanted on a felony warrant.

The police officer detained the suspect on suspicion of trespassing and found a felony warrant, according to CBS4. When confronted, the suspect began stabbing the officer numerous times. The officer used a handgun and fatally shot him.

Thomas did not release the identities of the suspect or officer.

Thomas said there are several homeless encampments in the area where the incident occurred, but did not know whether the suspect was homeless or not, 9News reported.

Because BNSF officers are dispatched through a Colorado State Patrol radio channel, CSP was able to identify that shots had been fired and started the initial response to the scene, according to Thomas, who also said:

“I do think it’s critical that those officers were able to monitor on their radio channel that there was something going on here so they could not only respond quickly but also notify us, so we could hasten our response as well.”

BNSF Railway is a freight transportation company that operates in 28 states and in Canada, and has 40,000 employees. Its headquarters is in Fort Worth, Texas. The company has an operation in Denver.

We also reported on a K-9 being stabbed multiple times by a criminal in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The incident went down when police pulled over a subject on a traffic stop on April 13.

The male ended up exiting his vehicle with a large machete and charged at an officer who was still in his vehicle. The officer reversed and the subject fled.

A K-9 officer released his dog to apprehend the suspect who then stabbed the dog 13 times. Now, the graphic video footage from the incident has been released and obtained by 8 News Now.

Las Vegas Metro Police Officer Vargus Berbe noticed that the vehicle driven by the suspect, now identified as Jeffrey Holland, had an expired license plate.

Berbe attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle who continued to drive until he entered the parking lot of an apartment complex.

When the vehicle stopped, Holland jumped out of the vehicle and had a large machete. Berbe testified in court:

“Once he got out with the large machete, he was approaching my car, pointing at me and approaching my car in a fast pace. I ultimately threw the car in reverse, the patrol vehicle, and immediately floored it so I ended up in the middle of Cambridge on the street.”

Holland then ran into an apartment trying to hide from officers.

Berbe called for backup and Metro Officer Nick Bachman, with police K-9 Kimura, was one of the officers who responded. Officers attempted to talk Holland out of the apartment and peacefully surrender to them.

However, Holland had other plans as he opened the door armed now with a large knife.

Officers began giving several commands to Holland to drop the knife and go to the ground, all of which he ignored. Berbe testified that Holland:

“…is holding it [knife] in a manner where he is, he’s holding it pretty much to his side raising it and he is challenging officers to approach him.”

Bachman then testified:

“In my mind I felt that if I did not deploy the dog probably somebody was going to get stabbed, one of my officers was going to get stabbed, or ultimately we would have to shoot the suspect.”

Based on these reasons, Bachman released K-9 Kimura to physically apprehend Holland, and this is the point where the video starts.

At the beginning, there is no audio, and LET warns you – it’s graphic.

K-9 Kimura did exactly what he was trained to do — immediately left the side of his handler and physically took hold of the suspect.

The suspect fell to the ground with K-9 Kimura still holding onto him. It is at this point that Bachman notices something is wrong:

“I see him pulling Kimura down towards his chest with his right hand and I saw his left hand come up with the large knife and stab my dog.”

In the video, you can clearly see this happening and hear the dog’s vocal reactions. Amazingly, K-9 Kimura did not release Holland and continue to hold onto him until Bachman recalls him.

Once the dog is recalled, officers tase Holland and were able to take him into custody without further incident. Once he was in custody, Bachman inspected K-9 Kimura’s injuries.

Bachman said that there “was about a six-inch deep hole that you could almost put your fist inside of” on the back of his neck. He also saw bite marks from Holland near K-9 Kimura’s eyes and nose.

K-9 Kimura was rushed to an emergency vet where he underwent emergency surgery and thankfully recovered. After a round of physical therapy and a few weeks to heal, K-9 Kimura returned to full duty roughly six weeks after being viciously stabbed by Holland.

Holland was indicted on Aug. 5 for intimidating a public officer, assault on a protected person with use of a deadly weapon, resisting a public officer with use of a deadly weapon, and mistreatment of a police animal.

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