CALIFORNIA, USA — A Sacramento police officer was convicted and sentenced for crashing into a motorcyclist who later died in Oct. 2022.
Benjamin Jillson was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, according to the Sacramento District Attorney's Office. The district attorney's office initially said Jillson was a former officer, but the police department clarified he is still employed with the department.
"Now that the criminal proceedings have been adjudicated, an internal investigation is now underway," a spokesperson for the Sacramento Police Department said.
Jillson pleaded to an offer by the court for 90 days in county jail. The 90 days won't be enforced if he completes 100 hours of community service involving veterans’ services.
The District Attorney's office says it objected to the plea deal, calling it, "too lenient."
The motorcyclist who died was identified as Denzil Broadhurst. His family wants the community service to involve veterans' service to honor Broadhurst.
“The family remains devastated over the loss of Denzil. They can now at least put the criminal and civil cases behind them and move forward with the healing process. They also thank the District Attorney for pursuing this case against the officer who killed Denzil which today resulted in a conviction of vehicular manslaughter," Robert Glassman, an attorney for the Broadhurst family, said in a statement.
The family had also filed a civil lawsuit against the city and Jillson. According to the firm representing the family, the Sacramento city council approved an award of $2 million to the family on Aug. 22.
The crash happened Oct. 31, 2022, on Bell Avenue east of Rio Linda Boulevard, in North Sacramento's Robla neighborhood. The Sacramento Police Department says Jillson was heading to a call for a "felony in progress."
Investigators say Jillson made an illegal U-turn in the middle of a neighborhood without any police lights or sirens on when the motorcyclist — later identified as Denzil Broadhurst — and the patrol car collided.
Broadhurst had major injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. In the body camera video, Jillson makes attempts to keep Broadhurst conscious and calls for medical assistance but does not move Broadhurst from where he was lying in the street.
Detectives and medical officials arrived on the scene roughly five minutes later and began treating the motorcyclist as Jillson stayed around his car.
Family and friends said 61-year-old Broadhurst was known for always offering a helping hand to anyone in need. Broadhurst had three grandchildren and one great-grandson.
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