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Phoenix police complete probe after trooper shoots Black man

Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 4 years, 6 months AGO
| July 8, 2020 7:27 PM

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix police have presented prosecutors with findings from their investigation into the Memorial Day fatal shooting of a Black man by an Arizona state trooper during an encounter on a freeway.

Police presented the findings Tuesday, and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office will review them to determine whether criminal charges are warranted in the death of Dion Johnson, 28.

Johnson was killed the same day that George Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck, and protesters in Arizona have decried both killings.

“The Phoenix Police Department made no recommendations regarding potential charges,” county attorney's office spokeswoman Jennifer Liewer told KNXV. “They typically do not make suggestions in the submittals of officer-involved shootings.”

County Attorney Allister Adel has asked her staff to prioritize the case, but there is no timeline for a charging decision, Liewer told KPNX.

Police have said the trooper shot Johnson during a roadside struggle the morning of May 25 after Johnson was found asleep behind the wheel of a car parked on a freeway gore point.

DPS officials on Wednesday identified the trooper involved in the shooting as George Cervantes, a 15-year veteran who remains on administrative leave.

Police said the trooper was not wearing a body camera and there was no dash camera because he was riding a motorcycle.

Cervantes said he was attempting to arrest Johnson on accusations of driving while intoxicated and he opened fire after Johnson tried to grab the trooper's gun during a struggle, according to police.

The trooper said he had removed a gun from the car while Johnson was still asleep or passed out, police have said.

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