An illegal immigrant accused of killing a Washington police officer in a crash earlier this year had his bail reduced from $1 million to $100,000 by a state judge last week.
Raul Benitez Santana, 32, is currently facing charges of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide involving alcohol and drugs in connection with the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, in March. He is being held in the Snohomish County Jail.
Santana was initially being held on $1 million bail, but online jail records showed Wednesday that bail was reduced to $100,000.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Okrent lowered Santana’s bail on May 15 after his lawyers argued for his release. everett herald report.
Undocumented immigrant accused of killing Washington state trooper had previously been charged with domestic violence
Raul Benitez Santana is accused of killing a Washington State Patrol trooper in March when he crashed his patrol car. (FOX13 Seattle KCPQ)
However, Gadd’s widow opposed Santana’s release in a letter to the judge.
“Reducing bail will not only reduce the severity of the crime, but will also cause further pain and suffering to me, my children, and the rest of my family,” Camryn Gadd wrote in a letter obtained by the Herald. ” he wrote.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, served two and a half years. He is survived by his wife and daughter, parents, sister and other family members. (Washington State Patrol)
Gadd was killed just before 3 a.m. while driving southbound on Interstate 5 near Marysville when his SUV veered off the road, crashed onto the shoulder of the road and hit a parked police cruiser. The SUV was reportedly traveling at high speed at the time of the collision.
Ice: Man who illegally crashed into and killed a Washington State Patrol trooper in the US
FOX13 in Seattle We previously reported that we had obtained court documents which allege Santana had bloodshot eyes and admitted to police that he had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana before getting behind the wheel of the car.
Gadd was found inside a patrol car and pronounced dead at the scene after the SUV that was traveling at high speed collided with the police car, authorities said. (Washington State Police)
ICE officials confirmed that Santana is a Mexican citizen and that he had been in the country illegally since entering the country at an unknown date. ICE deployed immigration agents after Santana’s arrest.
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Santana’s defense attorneys fear that if he posts bail, federal authorities will arrest him and deport him, the Herald reported.
Fox News’ Timothy HJ Nerozzi and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
