Thread: AZ: Officer killed by suspected illegal immigrant drunk driv

videos are on the major networks stations in PHX

http://www.kpho.com/index.html

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/

http://www.abc15.com/Default.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0jNsR2xnoU < report already on Youtube

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/

PHOENIX -- A suspected drunken driver in the country illegally who plowed into a squad car and killed a Phoenix police officer had four outstanding warrants, investigators said.

Officer Shane Figueroa, 25, was killed early Saturday while responding to a call about a series of shots fired. Figueroa was heading northbound on S. 19th Avenue, police said.

Police arrested Salvador Vivas Diaz, 50, and booked him on one count of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault. Sgt. Andy Hill said there are four warrants for the man's arrest under a different name, two of which are for DUI.

"As he approached S. Roeser Road, a small white pickup truck with two occupants was driving southbound on S. Roeser Road and, according to witnesses and investigators, turned left in front of Officer Figueroa's vehicle," Hill said.

Hill said Diaz slammed his pickup truck into the officer's car west of downtown Phoenix.

"Officer Figueroa suffered fatal injuries during this crash and was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital," Hill said.

Diaz suffered minor injuries. His passenger was seriously hurt.

"This is another tremendous loss, not only to Officer Figueroa's family, but to the Phoenix Police Department and the community," said Sgt. Andy Hill.

Figueroa leaves behind a wife and a 3-month-old baby girl.

"This has been a terrible tragedy for our department," said Jack Harris, Phoenix police chief. "As you know, we have lost four officers in the past month due to either personal illness or to, in this case, a very tragic accident."

Officers said the collision is still under investigation. "There are a number of factors critical to this investigation that will be determined by lab tests and mathematical calculations," he said.

"Officer Figueroa's dad is a retired officer from the Phoenix Police Department and is currently employed as an officer in the town of Maricopa," Harris said. "His father-in-law is currently a lieutenant with the Mesa Police

http://www.kpho.com/news/17802232/detail.html#-

Chief Harris and Mayor Phil Gordon held a 9 a.m. news conference at Desert Horizon Precinct. Gordon did not speak at the conference.




Gordon had nothing to say, huh? Why not?

He certainly has no shortage of words when it comes to heaping praise and defense upon his beloved illegal aliens enjoying their protected status in his sanctuary city.

Likewise, he always finds plenty to say while condemning the Sheriff's Dept., and any other agency, enforcing our laws when they effect his adoring masses of illegals.

Yet, another of his police officers is dead at the hands of one of these criminals and Little Lord Fauntleroy has absolutely NOTHING to say?

Tell us, Phil.......when do you plan on sending some surviving family member of THIS officer to Washington, with Harris, to blame this all on Congress for not granting amnesty? After all....it's not YOUR fault, is it?

http://www.mayorgordon.com/contact/index.cfm

City of Phoenix, Mayor's Office
200 W. Washington St., 11th floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 262-7111
Fax: (602) 495-5583
Email: mayor.gordon@phoenix.gov

There are four warrants for Gonzalez's arrest under a different name, two of which are for DUI. He was booked on charges including manslaughter and assault.

Illegal Hispanics sure do have alot of phoney id's. I guess they buy extra ones so they can drive around drunk.

The system needs alot of improvement. Warrants are no good if lawmakers are scammed by illegal aliens using several id's and they cant be found. Illegal aliens should NEVER receive bail and should be held in jail until their trial. Then after completing a jail term, they need to be deported permanently.

Why is this criminal only charged with manslaughter? He should be charged with murder.

My heart sinks a little more everyday, as I read more and more about the criminals that are allowed to run loose in this country. Another lost life, another illegal that will avoid prosecution by way of the revolving border door. He will be back in under a week... to kill again. Now today nobama made he's intentions clear, he will give amnesty and our borders will never be secure. Might as well buy a headstone for the middle class.

Originally Posted by jamesw62

congratulations PHX mayor phil gordon.
yet another of your officers killed by an illegal because you wont
enforce existing immigration laws and lat your officers ask immigration status. this is on your hands.

Yes you can say that again.

Phoenix police officer's death stirs immigration debate
Reported by: Jose Miguel

Last Update: 6:09 pm

The death of a Phoenix Police officer is stirring up the argument of immigration.

Salvador Vivas-Diaz is accused of driving impaired and causing the crash that killed Phoenix Officer Shane Figueroa over the weekend.

Diaz is also alleged to have been in this country illegally.

"This certainly pours salt in the wound," say President of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association Mark Spencer.

Spencer says this accident should serve as a reminder to the Federal Government to have tougher immigration laws and barriers.

"It's very frustrating that he lost his life to a person who shouldn't have been here," he said.

Spencer goes on to say, "it was an intoxicated driver that murdered Shane Figueroa, but it was an intoxicated driver that shouldn't have been here in the first place."

Leaders at Somos America say Diaz's citizenship status has nothing to do with what happened.

Antonio Bustamante says, "These things are gonna happen and as long as society has a need for foreign labor, foreign laborers will commit their fair share of these unfortunate incidents, just as citizens will commit their fair share of these unfortunate incidents."

Both men agree Federal Regulation is mandatory to make sure that the likelihood of these crimes being committed by someone who is undocumented lessens.

Bustamante says, "put our heads together, quit screaming at each other and come up with a comprehensive immigration reform that is just, compassionate and meets the needs of this country."

www.abc15.com

Originally Posted by jean

[b]

Leaders at Somos America say Diaz's citizenship status has nothing to do with what happened.

Antonio Bustamante says, "These things are gonna happen and as long as society has a need for foreign labor, foreign laborers will commit their fair share of these unfortunate incidents, just as citizens will commit their fair share of these unfortunate incidents."

Both men agree Federal Regulation is mandatory to make sure that the likelihood of these crimes being committed by someone who is undocumented lessens.

Bustamante says, "put our heads together, quit screaming at each other and come up with a comprehensive immigration reform that is just, compassionate and meets the needs of this country."

www.abc15.com

mr bustamante. the only problem is that he was here illegally and that is most of the problem, cuz if he wasnt here the police officer would still be alive and a three month old baby would get to know its daddy. but that wont happen now and your sorry idiotic self needs to stop making excuses for lawbreakers who dont have any regard for the law.
and as for immigration reform, its already been tried twice and the american people stood up and said HELL NO to it.
if you love the illegals so much, take em back to mexico and MOVE WITH EM

Man In Officer's Death Has Rap Sheet

POSTED: 3:35 pm MST October 27, 2008
UPDATED: 5:21 pm MST October 27, 2008


PHOENIX -- A suspected drunken driver who smashed into a police squad car and killed the 25-year-old officer early Saturday has an extensive criminal history, beyond being an illegal immigrant, court documents showed.

Police arrested Salvador Vivas-Diaz, 50, an illegal immigrant with a history of alcohol abuse and skirting the law, in connection with the death of Shane Figueroa, who had served less than three years as a Phoenix police officer.

Vivas-Diaz had four outstanding counts of driving under the influence, a suspended driver's license, charges of forgery for providing false documents and failure to appear in court.

CBS 5 News attempted to stop by Vivas-Diaz's Phoenix home to get reaction from family members, but no one answered the door.


His next-door neighbor, Henry Esparza, said Vivas-Diaz had a serious drinking problem that got out of control. A few months ago, Esparza said he reached out to help get Vivas-Diaz to stop drinking.

"He can't hardly breathe, shakes a lot, sweats a bit," Esparza said.

Investigators on the scene of Saturday's crash said Vivas-Diaz showed all the signs of a drunken driver. Police said he had bloodshot watery eyes, a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, poor balance and slurred speech.



Salvador Vivas-Diaz



After the accident, a witness saw Vivas-Diaz "getting off the seat of his vehicle and urinating on the roadway next to the truck," according to court paperwork.

When questioned, court records show Vivas-Diaz provided officers a false name, a fake ID and he appeared to have numerous outstanding warrants.

Vivas-Diaz had been deported to Mexico at least four times, and each time he came back across the border.
Police said at the time of his arrest, Vivas-Diaz was carrying two fake Mexican ID cards and initially gave officers a fake name at the accident scene at 19th Avenue and West Roeser Road.

It was only after police fingerprinted Vivas-Diaz and his outstanding warrants popped up that authorities figured out who he really was, according to court documents.

Vivas-Diaz was booked on one count of manslaughter, one count of assault, one count of obstructing a crime investigation and two counts of forgery.

Figueroa is survived by his wife, a 3-month-old baby and an extended family.
Man In Officer's Death Has Rap Sheet

POSTED: 3:35 pm MST October 27, 2008
UPDATED: 5:21 pm MST October 27, 2008


PHOENIX -- A suspected drunken driver who smashed into a police squad car and killed the 25-year-old officer early Saturday has an extensive criminal history, beyond being an illegal immigrant, court documents showed.

Police arrested Salvador Vivas-Diaz, 50, an illegal immigrant with a history of alcohol abuse and skirting the law, in connection with the death of Shane Figueroa, who had served less than three years as a Phoenix police officer.

Vivas-Diaz had four outstanding counts of driving under the influence, a suspended driver's license, charges of forgery for providing false documents and failure to appear in court.

CBS 5 News attempted to stop by Vivas-Diaz's Phoenix home to get reaction from family members, but no one answered the door.


His next-door neighbor, Henry Esparza, said Vivas-Diaz had a serious drinking problem that got out of control. A few months ago, Esparza said he reached out to help get Vivas-Diaz to stop drinking.

"He can't hardly breathe, shakes a lot, sweats a bit," Esparza said.

Investigators on the scene of Saturday's crash said Vivas-Diaz showed all the signs of a drunken driver. Police said he had bloodshot watery eyes, a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, poor balance and slurred speech.



Salvador Vivas-Diaz



After the accident, a witness saw Vivas-Diaz "getting off the seat of his vehicle and urinating on the roadway next to the truck," according to court paperwork.

When questioned, court records show Vivas-Diaz provided officers a false name, a fake ID and he appeared to have numerous outstanding warrants.

Vivas-Diaz had been deported to Mexico at least four times, and each time he came back across the border.

Police said at the time of his arrest, Vivas-Diaz was carrying two fake Mexican ID cards and initially gave officers a fake name at the accident scene at 19th Avenue and West Roeser Road.

It was only after police fingerprinted Vivas-Diaz and his outstanding warrants popped up that authorities figured out who he really was, according to court documents.

Vivas-Diaz was booked on one count of manslaughter, one count of assault, one count of obstructing a crime investigation and two counts of forgery.

Figueroa is survived by his wife, a 3-month-old baby and an extended family.
Man In Officer's Death Has Rap Sheet

POSTED: 3:35 pm MST October 27, 2008
UPDATED: 5:21 pm MST October 27, 2008


PHOENIX -- A suspected drunken driver who smashed into a police squad car and killed the 25-year-old officer early Saturday has an extensive criminal history, beyond being an illegal immigrant, court documents showed.

Police arrested Salvador Vivas-Diaz, 50, an illegal immigrant with a history of alcohol abuse and skirting the law, in connection with the death of Shane Figueroa, who had served less than three years as a Phoenix police officer.

Vivas-Diaz had four outstanding counts of driving under the influence, a suspended driver's license, charges of forgery for providing false documents and failure to appear in court.

CBS 5 News attempted to stop by Vivas-Diaz's Phoenix home to get reaction from family members, but no one answered the door.


His next-door neighbor, Henry Esparza, said Vivas-Diaz had a serious drinking problem that got out of control. A few months ago, Esparza said he reached out to help get Vivas-Diaz to stop drinking.

"He can't hardly breathe, shakes a lot, sweats a bit," Esparza said.

Investigators on the scene of Saturday's crash said Vivas-Diaz showed all the signs of a drunken driver. Police said he had bloodshot watery eyes, a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, poor balance and slurred speech.



Salvador Vivas-Diaz



After the accident, a witness saw Vivas-Diaz "getting off the seat of his vehicle and urinating on the roadway next to the truck," according to court paperwork.

When questioned, court records show Vivas-Diaz provided officers a false name, a fake ID and he appeared to have numerous outstanding warrants.

Vivas-Diaz had been deported to Mexico at least four times, and each time he came back across the border.

Police said at the time of his arrest, Vivas-Diaz was carrying two fake Mexican ID cards and initially gave officers a fake name at the accident scene at 19th Avenue and West Roeser Road.

It was only after police fingerprinted Vivas-Diaz and his outstanding warrants popped up that authorities figured out who he really was, according to court documents.

Vivas-Diaz was booked on one count of manslaughter, one count of assault, one count of obstructing a crime investigation and two counts of forgery.

Figueroa is survived by his wife, a 3-month-old baby and an extended family.
http://www.kpho.com/news/17816806/detail.html