Washington State Trooper killed by illegal immigrant with criminal history
MARYSVILLE, WA – Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Christopher Gadd, 27 years old, was killed over the weekend when he was struck and killed by a driver who was allegedly both drunk and high at the time, according to police reports.
It’s been further revealed that the suspect, Raul Benitez Santana, who had been living in Lynwood at the time, was in the country illegally.
Further, Santana had four previous run-ins with police prior to the murder of Trooper Gadd, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson. Charges against Santana include possession of marijuana, driving on a suspended license, failing to appear, and domestic violence assault.
Now, he’s facing vehicular homicide charges in connection with the death of Trooper Gadd.
It’s not clear at this time exactly when Santana entered the US. He is a Mexican national.
Early on Saturday morning, around 3:00 a.m., Trooper Gadd’s patrol vehicle was struck from behind by an SUV on Interstate 5. The patrol vehicle was parked on the shoulder at the time of the collision. The SUV was allegedly being driven by Santana, who reportedly displayed bloodshot eyes and admitted to both smoking marijuana and drinking two beers prior to driving.
According to a witness, the SUV was driving at excessive speeds when it swerved and hit Trooper Gadd’s vehicle. MyNorthwest said, “The SUV then bounced off the trooper’s vehicle, stopped in the fast lane, and was subsequently hit by a van with six people inside.”
Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Tobin Darrow said, “He (Santana) impaired is by the substances he’s been using and just flat drives right into the back of his patrol vehicle at full speed. The fact that he’s been drinking and consuming marijuana contributed to his failure to recognize that the shoulder is not a proper lane of travel.”
Santana is currently being held in the Snohomish County Jail for the homicide charge. ICE has reportedly put a detainer on him, which means that the jail will call ICE to pick him up and deport him in the event he is released.
WSP Chief John Batiste said that Trooper Gadd was “a truly good man who was dedicated to the job and community.” He continued, “Chris’ passing is a devastating loss to his family – a family who knows all too well the risks of public service but still has offered that service with unquestioned valor and now, unfathomable sacrifice."
“I can tell you that across the entire Washington State Patrol, every head is bowed, every knee is bent, and every heart is broken as we mourn this loss. To honor Chris, even in sorrow, we will go on. We will continue to serve. Because he did, we must.”
WSP spokesperson Christ Loftis told a local news station, “It is with a heavy heart that we report we lost a brother today. The troopers sign up for danger. They are brave people.”
Trooper Gadd is survived by his wife, Cammryn, and their two-year-old daughter, Kaelynn. He’d been serving WSP for two and a half years. His father is serving in Bellevue as a current trooper with WSP. His sister is also a state trooper in Texas.
He is the 33rd trooper in Washington State killed in the line of duty.
Trooper Gadd’s family shared a statement with WSP, which read, “We are working through what is undoubtedly the most difficult of times for our family as we mourn the loss of a loved husband, devoted father, caring brother, beloved son, and committed friend. We appreciate the outpouring of support we have seen from the community that Chris loved and served. We ask the media to respect our family’s privacy during this painful time.”
WSP added that cards may be sent for Trooper Gadd’s family to the WSP Marysville Office: 2700 116th Street Northeast, Marysville, WA 98271.
Original Online Source: https://lawenforcementtoday.com/washington-state-trooper-killed-by-illegal-immigrant-with-long-criminal-history