SEATTLE, WA – A man from Mexico, residing unlawfully in the United States, has been detained under a $1 million bond. The arrest follows his alleged involvement in a fatal car crash that resulted in the death of a Washington State Patrol trooper.
The incident occurred early Saturday on Interstate 5 when Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, was monitoring traffic for speed and DUI violations. Gadd’s patrol car was hit in a three-vehicle collision, leading to his untimely demise.
The subsequent investigation revealed that an SUV, driven by 33-year-old Raul Benitez Santana, was moving southbound on the interstate when it veered off course and collided with Gadd’s patrol car. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reported that Santana’s SUV was speeding at the time of the accident.
Gadd, a two-and-a-half-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol, is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, sister, and other family members.
Court documents allege that Santana had bloodshot eyes and confessed to consuming alcohol and marijuana before driving. Following his arrest, Santana was taken to the Snohomish County Jail. The Seattle Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed an immigration detainer on Santana, a Mexican national.
An ICE spokesperson explained that ERO Seattle issues immigration detainers for noncitizens arrested for criminal activities. These detainers request local law enforcement to inform ICE before releasing a removable noncitizen, allowing ERO to take custody for potential deportation.
Santana, confirmed as a Mexican citizen by ICE, was residing unlawfully in the U.S. after entering the country at an unknown time. His first encounter with ERO Seattle was in October 2013 when he was arrested for failing to appear in court for driving on a suspended license.
In May 2013, Santana was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 87 days suspended, after being convicted of possessing 40 grams or less of marijuana. In October 2014, he received another 90-day sentence for driving on a suspended license, and in May 2019, he was arrested for domestic violence assault.