Charge Upgraded to Murder in Texas Officer’s Death

TEXARKANA (AP) — A man originally charged with assault in the June traffic-related death of a Northeast Texas police officer now faces a murder count. The Texarkana Gazette reports a Bowie County grand jury Thursday indicted Justin Sanders, 21, on the upgraded charge. The case involves the death of Texarkana police Officer William Sprague.

Investigators say the 30-year-old officer was outside of his patrol car and responding to a disturbance at a park when he was struck June 14 by a fleeing vehicle. Sprague died the following day. Police later arrested Sanders, who in August was indicted on a charge of aggravated assault on a police officer. A judge in Texarkana earlier this month granted a defense request and moved next year’s scheduled trial to Rockwall, 20 miles east of Dallas.