Garland Officer Fired After Shooting At Suspect 41 Times
GARLAND (CBSDFW.COM) - Officials with the Garland Police Department have terminated one of their officers. Patrick Tuter was fired for violating department pursuit and use of force policies.
The firing stems from events on August 31, 2012 and ended with then Officer Tuter shooting at suspect Michael Vincent Allen more than three dozen times.
Tuter had tried to pull over Allen but he refused to stop led police on a 30-minute, high-speed chase that ended on a Mesquite cul-de-sac.
It was initially reported that Allen rammed a police squad car, but investigators later determined that it was Officer Tuter who slammed into the pickup.
Tuter had said he feared for his life and opened fire on the suspect. Detectives later learned he had fired as many as 41 shots at Allen, actually hitting him three times. Allen died at the scene.
No other officer at the scene fired a weapon and Allen was unarmed.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Officer later performed an autopsy and determined the 25-year-old man had suffered gunshot wounds to the upper back, side and left elbow. He also had bruises and cuts on his body where Officer Tuter rammed his truck.
A few weeks after the shooting Allen's parents, Randy and Stephanie, told CBS 11 News their son did not deserve die in a barrage of bullets. "I don't see anybody else reacting like that, normal. Forty-one shots. I mean, with the other police officers just standing there. I can't believe someone didn't tackle him and say, 'Stop! That's enough!'"
Tuter, who was a seven-year veteran with Garland PD, had been on extended administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigations.
Tuter's termination is a result of the administrative investigation. A Dallas County grand jury will be convened to consider the criminal charges.
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