Inspector feared for safety in shooting
Motorist was pulling on him, official says
By L. Anne Newell
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
A U.S. Customs Service inspector who fatally shot a motorist Thursday did so after the man started to drive away, pulling the inspector with him, authorities said Friday.
Inspector Phillip Reese, 46, a 17-month agency veteran, also told authorities the motorist - whom he suspected was smuggling drugs - had reached for something in the vehicle and he feared the man would injure another nearby inspector if the vehicle continued moving forward, said Sgt. James Ogden, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
Reese also knew he could be rammed into a concrete pole if the driver - who still had not been identified late Friday - didn't let go of him, Ogden said.
"Inspector Reese was in fear of not only his own safety, but for a fellow inspector's safety," Ogden said. "Had the vehicle continued pulling forward, he was in fear the other inspector would be run over."
Reese was not injured in the incident. The motorist was pronounced dead at the scene, after his red Chevrolet Suburban continued through the port and came to rest 100 to 150 yards down Arizona 85, Ogden said.
A search of the Suburban turned up nothing of "significant value," Ogden said.
The incident began at 8:50 a.m. as the Chevy, which had Arizona plates, tried to enter the United States at Lukeville, 150 miles southwest of Tucson, Ogden said.
Reese noticed the driver was acting suspiciously as he approached the border, Ogden said, and seemed nervous. Also, a customs spokesman said Reese and other inspectors recognized him as someone who had forced his way through the port at least twice before.
The man was evasive when answering questions, Ogden said, and refused Reese's request to get out of the vehicle. Reese attempted to pull him out, Ogden said, and a struggle ensued.
The driver was able to start the Suburban during the struggle and began pulling on Reese while reaching down in the vehicle, Ogden said.
He then attempted to drive away while still pulling on the inspector, he said.
The inspector told officials he managed to unholster his Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun and fire one shot into the Suburban. Ogden said the man was hit but continued driving, crossing to opposing lanes and coming to rest down the road.
Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine exactly where the man was hit, Ogden said, and whether he was under the influence of drugs.
The shooting occurred only a few miles from where National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle died in a shootout last August and followed several other incidents in recent weeks in which both law enforcement officers and illegal entrants reported acts of violence.
Reese was expected to receive time off to recover from the incident, an agency official said.
