Latest news with #Benitez-Santana
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Illegal immigrant convicted in 100 mph DUI crash that killed Washington state trooper
Jurors in Washington state delivered a guilty verdict against an illegal immigrant accused of killing a state trooper last year. Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, was found guilty of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd. Advertisement Gadd, 27, was killed when his cruiser was hit by a speeding car in March 2024 at more than 100 mph. Benitez-Santana was under the influence at the time of the crash, and admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana before driving, Fox Seattle reported. He was swerving across the road before slamming into the rear end of Gadd's vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder. Gadd was watching for speeding and DUI drivers, when he was struck and killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5. Advertisement After his arrest, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request with Snohomish County Jail for Benitez-Santana, a Mexican citizen. 4 Raul Benitez-Santana was convicted for driving under the influence and going 100 mph before a crash that killed a Washington State Patrol trooper. Snohomish county Sheriff's office 4 Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd was killed in the crash on March 2, 2024. Washington State Memorial Foundation He was first encountered by immigration agents on Oct. 28, 2013, at the South Correctional Entity in Burien, Washington, after being arrested for failing to appear in court for driving on a suspended license. Advertisement He was also sentenced to 90 days behind bars, with 87 of the days suspended, in May 2013, after being convicted of possessing less than 40 grams of marijuana. On Oct. 6, 2014, Santana was sentenced to 90 days behind bars for driving on a suspended license, and in May 2019, was arrested again for domestic violence assault. 4 Gadd was watching for speeding and DUI drivers, when he was struck and killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5. 4 Benitez-Santana appears in court after his arrested for the fatal crash. FOX 13 Advertisement Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE. Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner and Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Trial begins for man accused of killing WSP trooper while speeding under the influence
This story was originally published on Opening statements for the trial for a man charged with killing a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper in March 2024 started today. The defendant, Raul Benitez-Santana, is accused of crashing into the back of a WSP cruiser on I-5 on March 2, 2024, while driving under the influence. According to a witness, the SUV driven by Benitez-Santana swerved and hit the back of the WSP vehicle. The SUV then ricocheted off the patrol vehicle and stopped in the fast lane, where it was hit by a van with six people inside. WSP Trooper Christopher Gadd, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the car that was crashed into, died in the collision. Investigators alleged that Benitez-Santana, 33, was driving more than 100 mph when the crash occurred. Prosecutors said Santana admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking beer before he crashed into Gadd's patrol vehicle. Benitez-Santana's defense argued that it was dark and Gadd's vehicle did not have its lights on, claiming Benitez-Santana only saw the car's lights come on one second before the crash. Prosecutors countered, arguing his driving in the passing lane of the freeway was reckless regardless of the circumstances. Benitez-Santana, a Mexican citizen, was in the U.S. illegally when the crash happened. After his arrest, ICE placed an immigration detainer on him. 'Immigration detainers are essential in completing a transfer of custody in the safest way possible, and are placed by ERO Seattle to ensure noncitizens are held accountable to federal laws,' Drew Bostock, the Seattle Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations with ICE, stated. It's not known when Santana entered the country, but an ICE spokesperson confirmed he's had at least four run-ins with the law in Washington. A hearing to dismiss the case was denied by a judge earlier this week. Benitez-Santana's defense argued that a staffer in the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office asked ICE officials in Seattle to put a detainer on him ahead of a court hearing. They alleged the staffer engaged in 'outrageous government misconduct.' 'The state reasonably should have known that including information about the client's immigration status in a publicly filed court document would result in its dissemination to the public and could materially prejudice the adjudicative process,' the defense team stated. Gadd, 27, is the 33rd WSP trooper killed in the line of duty. Gadd joined WSP in 2021, graduating at the top of his class in 2022. He is survived by his wife Cammryn and their two-year-old daughter. Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Judge denies motion to dismiss case against Mexican national accused of killing state trooper in DUI
33-year-old Raul Benitez-Santana sat silent during Monday's hearing as a judge ruled on a motion to have the case against him dismissed. The Mexican national is accused of DUI and causing a crash on I-5 near Marysville that killed 27-year-old Washington State Trooper Christopher Gadd in March of 2024. Investigators said Benitez-Santana was going more than 100 miles an hour when he slammed into the back of the trooper's cruiser. Benitez-Santana was illegally in the U.S. when he was arrested. Defense attorneys wanted the case tossed, accusing the prosecutor's office of 'outrageous misconduct' for contacting ICE after charges were filed and violating state sanctuary laws. They also raised concerns over pre-trial publicity and the defendant's immigration status. 'Someone's immigration status, someone's citizenship, should not be considered,' said defense attorney Emily Hancock. Prosecutors argued dismissing the case would be prejudiced. 'We have a timeline that clearly shows that the state did not reach out to ICE to tell them 'put a detainer on this individual,'' said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Campbell. Judge Karen Moore denied the motion to dismiss, saying that while there was misconduct, the prosecutor's office did not collude with ICE or create prejudice. 'Where is the prejudice that materially affects Mr. Benitez-Santana's right to a fair trial right now? Other than the fact that bail was set and he was detained,' said Judge Moore. Benitez-Santana remains in custody on $100,000 bail. Jury selection is expected to begin Tuesday.
