Detective Sergeant Mialbach succumbed to wounds sustained ten days earlier when he was shot as he and two civilian volunteers transported three prisoners to the police station for questioning about a stolen car. As the patrol car was driving past the intersection of 5th and Jefferson Streets one of the suspects pulled a pistol from his hat and shot Detective Sergeant Mialbach in the face. He then shot and killed the two volunteers before fleeing. The man was arrested three days later at his place of work.

Detective Sergeant Mialbach was survived by his wife.