Man shot at border had arrest record

Arizona Daily Star ^ | 19 Feb 2003 | L. Anne Newell

[JackelopeBreeder]

A Glendale man shot to death by a U.S. Customs inspector last week as he apparently tried to force his way across the border had run from law enforcement officers in the past, court records show.

Officials said William Otto Petersen, 30, and Inspector Phillip Reese, 46, struggled after Reese asked Petersen to comply with a vehicle search because he thought the man was suspicious. During the fight, authorities said, Petersen started the engine of his red Chevrolet Suburban and began driving forward while pulling on Reese.

The inspector, fearing for his safety and that of another nearby inspector, fired once, hitting Petersen in the torso, officials said.

Investigators with the Pima County Sheriff's Department said Petersen had warrants for his arrest on charges of felony flight from law enforcement, resisting arrest and a probation violation.

Records from Maricopa County Superior Court show he'd been in trouble with the law for weapons violations as well as forgery and drug charges.

He was sentenced to three years' supervised probation and three months in jail for a November 1999 case, then was sentenced to four years' supervised probation for a May 2000 case. In May 2001, he had his probation revoked and served two more months in jail and received three more years of probation, records show.

Sheriff's officials on Tuesday said the previous incidents don't affect their investigation and they had nothing new to report.

They are awaiting toxicology results on Petersen to try to determine whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the incident at the Lukeville port of entry last Thursday.

No contraband was found in Petersen's vehicle, leaving officials to speculate he feared being picked up for the warrants.

Customs officials also believe he'd forced his way through the port - 150 miles southwest of Tucson - at least twice before.

Reese, a Customs agent for 17 months, was not injured in the incident.

[JackelopeBreeder]

An update to last week's saga...

[JackelopeBreeder]

Ping!

[Lee Heggy]

"try to determine whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the incident at the Lukeville port of entry last
Thursday."

He was under some sort of influence for sure...paranoia combined with a little stupidity can be deadly.

[Stingray51]

Good riddance to a bad actor. I for one, however, am generally opposed to claims by law enforcement officers that they had to shoot a perp in order to avoid being run over by his car. It would seem that shooting the driver could just as easily result in him in swerving or otherwise driving into somebody. I also think yelling "look out" and diving out the way would likely be more effective. IMHO, this is the standard claim of cops when they shoot an unarmed driver.

[gdc61]

missed last weeks article, did posts get ugly about excessive force?

[JackelopeBreeder]

Original post is here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/842567/posts

All I can say is that if someone had my arm and was trying to drag me, the bullet would have gone in his left ear.

[HiJinx]

...the bullet ...

The bullet? The first two would have been head shots...

[JackelopeBreeder]

I sorta thought a .45 HydraShok wouldn't have left much of a target for a second shot.

[HiJinx]

I thought they used 9mm FMJs?

[JackelopeBreeder]

They do -- but I use .45 HydraShoks.

[HiJinx]

Hmmm...yeah, that'll do it.

I took the boys out to the sulphur pit to shoot on Monday. We took along a S&W 629 Classic with .44Special 185 gr. Jacketed Hollowpoints. Had fun trying to hit some long range (50 - 100 yds) targets. It got to where I was hitting a 2x5' metal panel at 100 yds one-handed. Really surprised myself that I could do that.

[madfly]

Customs shooting update

[SAMWolf]

Bump.

[occam's chainsaw]

During the fight, authorities said, Petersen started the engine of his red Chevrolet Suburban and began driving forward while pulling on Reese.

Apparently, it wasn't as if the officers were just standing near the vehicle - the driver was attempting to drag one of them alongside his Suburban. Anyone in this sort of situation would have to be an idiot to just hope for the best and go along for the ride. Did the inspector have any way of knowing that the driver didn't have a gun or knife in the vehicle and was about to use it? The officer had sufficient reason to be in fear for his life IMHO, and consequently had every right to respond with force (as he did).

[Regulator]

William Otto Petersen

Imagine if it had turned out that the guy's name was Enrique Sanchez, illegal border runner from Mexico. The wailing and gnashing of teeth over the "Brutal, Racist Gringo Customs inspector" would still be going on right now, with Loretta Sanchez, Raul Grijalva, Sivestre Reyes and every other Reconquista criminal in our Congress calling for his head.

But, since his name implies that he's Joe White Guy, it's A-OK by them. Real Altruistic Egalitarians, aren't they?

[Grampa Dave]

This assault with a deadly weapon: Petersen started the engine of his red Chevrolet Suburban and began driving forward while pulling on Reese.

[Stingray51]

There's no point in having the usual and entirely predictable law enforcment debate. It has been my completely anecdotal observation that law enforcement officers use deadly force with some frequency against unarmed drivers of automobiles and, in my completely civilian opinion, that is not good police procedure. It seems to me that police officers should not be standing in front of or behind vehicles or placing themselves in a position where they can be grabbed or snagged by a moving vehicle.

[occam's chainsaw]

There's no point in having the usual and entirely predictable law enforcment debate.

Then why did you bring it up?

It seems to me that police officers should not be standing in front of or behind vehicles or placing themselves in a position where they can be grabbed or snagged by a moving vehicle.

How do you propose they stop vehicles at the border and inspect them without placing themselves in such a position? By rappelling down into the vehicle from a helicopter?

These were not police officers, they were U.S. Customs Inspectors. Have you ever waited in a line of cars to cross the border?

[Stingray51]

How do you propose they stop vehicles at the border and inspect them without placing themselves in such a position? By rappelling down into the vehicle from a helicopter?

Well, let's see. They can stand next to the car and demand documents without actually reaching into it. Or, if they need to reach into it, they can first ensure that the vehicle is turned off and the keys are removed from the ignition. Those are a couple of common sense measures that come to mind. If any border security or law enforcement officers are trained differently, I would be interested to know. Perhaps, some Freepers out there are aware of training in these areas. I used the term "police" as shorthand and, yes, I have crossed many borders.

[Marine Inspector]

Good riddance to a bad actor. I for one, however, am generally opposed to claims by law enforcement officers that they had to shoot a perp in order to avoid being run over by his car. It would seem that shooting the driver could just as easily result in him in swerving or otherwise driving into somebody. I also think yelling "look out" and diving out the way would likely be more effective. IMHO, this is the standard claim of cops when they shoot an unarmed driver.

If you have ever seen the Lukeville Port of Entry, there is not a whole lot of places to dive out of the way.