An illegal immigrant has been arrested for allegedly crashing his vehicle into a Washington State Patrol trooper’s car on Saturday, resulting in the death of the state trooper.
According to Fox News, 33-year-old Raul Benitez Santana, a Mexican national who illegally entered the United States, was arrested after the incident and is currently being held on $1 million bail. Santana allegedly drove an SUV into 27-year-old Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd’s patrol car on Saturday at 3 a.m. on Interstate 5.
Fox News reported that an investigation by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the SUV was speeding when it swerved onto the shoulder of the road and crashed into Gadd’s patrol car. Court documents obtained by Fox 13 Seattle have revealed that Santana allegedly had bloodshot eyes and told police officers that he had been smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol prior to driving on Saturday.
Fox News reported that Santana was transported to Snohomish County Jail following the fatal incident. The outlet noted that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ((ICE) Seattle Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division has placed an immigration detainer on the illegal immigrant.
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“As one of the operational directorates associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ERO Seattle lodges immigration detainers against noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity and taken into custody by state or local law enforcement,” an ICE spokesperson told Fox News.
The Ice spokesperson added, “An immigration detainer is a request from ICE to state or local law enforcement agencies to notify ICE as early as possible before a removable noncitizen is released, allowing ERO to assume custody for possible removal to the subject’s home country in accordance with federal law.”
According to Fox News, an anonymous ICE official confirmed that Santana is a Mexican National who illegally entered the United States; however, the date and time of Santana’s entry into the United States has not yet been released.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, End Wokeness shared a picture of Gadd alongside a picture of Santana. Addressing Gadd’s tragic death, End Wokeness wrote, “He was killed Saturday by an illegal with a long criminal history named Raul Benitez Santana, who came from Mexico at an unknown date.”
Fox News reported that Santana was sentenced to prison in May of 2013 after being convicted for the possession of marijuana. The ERO reportedly first encountered Santana on October 28, 2013, after he was arrested for skipping a court appearance related to charges of driving with a suspended license.
On October 6, 2014, Santana was sentenced to prison for 90 days due to driving with a suspended license. According to Fox News, the illegal immigrant was also arrested in 2019 on charges of domestic assault.
