Died 31 October 1968

Burial in Blair Cemetery

Published in Pilot Tribune on 4 November 1968

BLAIR MAN SHOT BY POLICE WHILE RESISTING ARREST

DREW GUN ON OFFICER FOLLOWING CHASE ON TRAFFIC VIOLATON

Clair Jensen, age 26, of 1763 Nebraska Street, was fatally shot by Patrolman D.R. Fiene of the Blair City Police while resisting arrest early Thursday morning.

The incident occurred in the yard at the Jensen residence about 1:40 a.m.. Jensen died at the Blair Hospital at 4:20 a.m.

From police reports, Patrolman Fiene noticed Jensen driving in an erratic manner down Washington Street about 1:30 a.m. Fiene drove after the Jensen car with his red lights flashing but Jensen did not stop and took off at a high rate of speed. After a chase of about 8 to 10 blocks, Jensen turned into his yard at 18th and Nebraska.

Patrolman Fiene informed Jensen he was under arrest for willful reckless driving and ordered him out of his car. Jensen refused and Fiene went up to the car and opened the driver's door. Jensen picked up a large revolver and brought it into sight. Fiene told Jensen to drop the gun, but instead, Jensen continued to swing the gun toward the officer. Fiene then fired one shot which struck Jensen in the head.

The gun in Jensen's possession was a .44 magnum revolver, over 12 inches in length. It was fully loaded and cocked when recovered from the floor of the car, where it was dropped.

Patrolman Fiene had radioed for help from the other police cruiser during the chase, and Patrolman Ronald Jensen, on duty in the other car, responded. State Patrolman Cleve, who happened to be cruising through Washington Street, noticed the Blair cruiser take off and followed to give help if needed. Both these cars arrived shortly after the shooting. The Blair Rescue Squad was called and removed Jensen, who was unconscious, to the Blair Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:20 a.m.

Jensen had a record of several misdemeanors in the local police court, mostly traffic offenses. A laboratory report has confirmed that he had been drinking before the chase of last Thursday evening.

County Attorney Roy I. Anderson, who is also the coroner, said that there would be no inquest into the death, inasmuch as the facts of the case appeared to be quite definitely established.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Find a Grave # 57081087