2019 Pasco Fatal Shooting by Officer Justified, Says Report

After nearly 2 1/2 years, an investigation shows a slain Pasco man set in motion the events that led to him being shot by Police.

   SIU says the man assaulted officers, refused commands, and injured several

In December 2019, 3 Pasco officers were attempting a suspect, for his role in an attempted break-in in Pasco.  On December 14th the three officers, identified as Officers  Ben Boykin, Kierra Peoples and Jason Griffin, was trying to apprehend 18-year-old Alejandro Betancourt-Mendoza.

24-year-old Martin Mendoza began to interfere and struggle with the officers, allowing Bentancourt to arm himself with a knife he had in his pocket.

Betancourt slashed one officer's arm and cut another officer's face before being fatally shot.

Body cam footage released by Pasco Police also corroborated the later SIU report.

 SIU Unit rules he was responsible

Get our free mobile app

Martin Mendoza has already been charged and is in jail for his role in the incident, and the SIU report indicates deadly force was necessary to prevent further injury to the officers by Betancourt, who was fatally shot.