A judge in Washington has convicted Raul Benitez-Santana, a 33-year-old man, in the case involving the death of a state police officer. The conviction includes charges of vehicle assault and vehicle murder tied to the incident.
The officer, True Parklist Ferguard, 27, lost his life in March 2024 when a speeding vehicle, allegedly driven by Benitez-Santana at more than 100 mph, crashed into his parked cruiser.
Reports indicate that Benitez-Santana admitted to using marijuana and drinking before the incident. He veered off the road and collided with Ferguard’s vehicle, which was on the shoulder of the highway.
At the time of the crash, Ferguard was addressing concerns related to speeding and a suspected DUI driver, leading to a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 5.
Following the crash, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed a request to detain Benitez-Santana, who is a Mexican national.
His history with immigration authorities dates back to October 28, 2013, when he was first encountered by agents after being arrested for skipping a court date related to driving with a suspended license.
He had also received a suspended 90-day jail sentence for possessing less than 40 grams of marijuana in May 2013, and in 2014, he faced another 90-day sentence for driving on a suspended license. In May 2019, he was arrested again for domestic violence-related assault.
