UPDATE: Thomas Hawes Identified as Man Fatally Shot by Scottsdale Cops; Five Detectives on Leave
Scottsdale police officers shot and killed a man this morning who was wanted for questioning in sex crimes.
Police haven't released the 45-year-old man's name, but Scottsdale Officer David Pubins says in an e-mail that the man first pointed the gun at himself, then pointed it at officers, before firing one round at police.
See also:
-Scottsdale Police Department Has Quite a Shooting Problem, ACLU Alleges
-David Hulstedt Shot in Back, Then Dragged 400 Feet on Knees by Scottsdale Police
-James Peters, Scottsdale Cop With Six Kills, Approved for Retirement
At that point, multiple officers shot back and hit the man, who died at the scene.
From what it sounds like -- we're trying to clarify this with police -- detectives were driving behind the man in the area of 83rd Street and Granite Reef Drive, when the man pulled over his car to the side of the road, and pointed the gun at himself.
Police say the detectives started negotiating with him, but the man eventually got out of his car, pointed the gun at the detectives, and fired a shot -- before he was gunned down by officers.
The details are still coming in, but the ACLU of Arizona filed a lawsuit against the Scottsdale Police Department in September, after former Officer James Peters notched his sixth kill, as the ACLU alleged Scottsdale PD heads pretty much have a policy of "rubber-stamping" officer-involved shootings as justified.
A little more than a year ago, police responded to John Loxas' home, and he answered the door with his grandson in his arms. He was not armed, but Officer Peters shot him in the forehead, killing him instantly. No other officer fired a shot.
ACLU representatives compared that to the 2008 shooting of David Hulstedt, who was shot, handcuffed, and dragged about 400 feet by Scottsdale cops, in an incident that was captured on videos.
As for this morning's shooting, we'll provide updates when they become available.
