Officer shoots and kills illegal immigrant
Posted: Nov 26, 2007 12:35 PM EST

An illegal immigrant is dead after a routine traffic stop.

Tucson Police say one of their officers shot an illegal immigrant after a violent altercation Saturday night. It happened around 8 p.m. on the south side near Mission and Irvington Roads.

TPD says Officer Douglas Dreher, a two year veteran, pulled over a car with expired registration. When the officer asked for a license, the driver admitted he was an illegal immigrant. When Officer Dreher went back to his car and called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the driver and passenger took off on foot.

Officer Dreher caught up to the driver and began fighting. The suspect allegedly punched the officer then ended up getting a hold of his baton.

"He extended it and used it to attack. He struck him repeatedly...During all this, he is giving the suspect commands, telling him to drop the baton," Sgt. Fabian Pacheco said.

They're commands the suspect allegedly ignored. Then he came after Officer Dreher again.

"At this point, Officer Dreher, fearing for his life, fired," Sgt. Pacheco said.

He fired multiple times, killing the suspect. Police say he did what he was trained to do.

"He knows that at any point, any point in time, he loses his handgun he could be shot and killed, "Sgt. Pacheco said.

Police caught up with the passenger late Saturday night. They say they questioned and released him. Sgt. Pacheco wouldn't comment on the man's immigration status. He faces no charges at this time.

As for Officer Dreher, he's on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Police say this is standard procedure in these types of incidents.
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