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by ChgoWatchdog2 from Chicago

Last Post 26 days, 8 hours Ago


Police Officer killed by illegal alien who'd been deported 4 times...
Oct 27, 2008 | 11:12 PM
Category: News
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http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=980740

October 27, 2008  KPHO Channel 5

PHOENIX -- A suspected drunken driver who smashed into a police squad car and killed the 25-year-old officer early Saturday has an extensive criminal history, beyond being an illegal immigrant, court documents showed.

Police arrested Salvador Vivas-Diaz, 50, an illegal immigrant with a history of alcohol abuse and skirting the law, in connection with the death of Shane Figueroa, who had served less than three years as a Phoenix police officer.

Vivas-Diaz had four outstanding counts of driving under the influence, a suspended driver's license, charges of forgery for providing false documents and failure to appear in court.

CBS 5 News attempted to stop by Vivas-Diaz's Phoenix home to get reaction from family members, but no one answered the door.  

His next-door neighbor, Henry Esparza, said Vivas-Diaz had a serious drinking problem that got out of control. A few months ago, Esparza said he reached out to help get Vivas-Diaz to stop drinking.

"He can't hardly breathe, shakes a lot, sweats a bit," Esparza said.

Investigators on the scene of Saturday's crash said Vivas-Diaz showed all the signs of a drunken driver. Police said he had bloodshot watery eyes, a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, poor balance and slurred speech.

After the accident, a witness saw Vivas-Diaz "getting off the seat of his vehicle and urinating on the roadway next to the truck," according to court paperwork.

When questioned, court records show Vivas-Diaz provided officers a false name, a fake ID and he appeared to have numerous outstanding warrants.

Vivas-Diaz had been deported to Mexico at least four times, and each time he came back across the border.

Police said at the time of his arrest, Vivas-Diaz was carrying two fake Mexican ID cards and initially gave officers a fake name at the accident scene at 19th Avenue and West Roeser Road.
It was only after police fingerprinted Vivas-Diaz and his outstanding warrants popped up that authorities figured out who he really was, according to court documents.

Vivas-Diaz was booked on one count of manslaughter, one count of assault, one count of obstructing a crime investigation and two counts of forgery.

Figueroa is survived by his wife, a 3-month-old baby and an extended family.
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