Police Car Runs Over Man and Kills Him
His Family Wasn’t Notified For Months
37-year-old Dexter Wade left his Jackson, Mississippi, home around 7 p.m. on March 5, 2023. Less than an hour later and a mile away, Wade was struck by a police car driven by an off-duty officer as he attempted to cross Interstate 55 in Jackson.
Wade had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; he spent most of his days at home, cleaning and taking care of the yard, according to his mother, Bettersten Wade. Prior to his diagnosis, Dexter Wade had served two stints in prison, once for auto theft and another for armed robbery. His last release was in 2017. Wade had two daughters from a previous relationship with whom he maintained a steady relationship. He handed out homemade ice pops to neighborhood children and often gave food to people experiencing homelessness. He never left home for over a day or two without calling.
Wade’s body was transported to the city morgue after his death. He wasn’t carrying ID but did have a prescription bottle for his schizophrenia medication. The coroner’s investigator contacted the prescribing entity and obtained Wade’s name and his mother’s name and telephone number. Her correct number was noted on a form. Fingerprints confirmed Wade’s identity, and police accident investigators were alerted so they could notify the…
