Police shooting inquiry continues

ROYAL CITY - The investigation of the police shooting of a domestic violence suspect here on Oct. 24 could be completed and in the hands of the county prosecutor by Nov. 18.

Kyle Foreman, spokesman for the Columbia Basin Investigative Team, said Friday the CBIT expected to be finished within 14 days. He also clarified the role of the CBIT in the matter.

According to Foreman, the CBIT will not make a recommendation. He said the CBIT will only deliver a report, based on its investigation, to the prosecutor. The prosecutor will determine if Royal City Police Officer Rey Rodriguez's actions were justified that late Monday afternoon.

Rodriguez's actions, while on a domestic violence call, left Pedro Salgado Ceja, 45, of Royal City dead. He was shot with Rodriguez's sidearm. As of Friday, the CBIT was still trying to determine at least two critical issues.

Rodriguez was assisting a New Hope domestic violence advocate remove a female victim to safety during the incident. While assessing the matter, Foreman said, Rodriguez developed probable cause for the arrest of Ceja and attempted to do that.

According to witnesses, Foreman said, Ceja refused to be arrested and instead picked up a flat-bottomed shovel lying in the yard at 200 Hemlock Ave. NW and went after Rodriguez. Rodriguez shot Ceja before he could land a blow.

According to Foreman, the CBIT interviewed four witnesses who are cooperative. It spoke to three who are not.

Eight minutes elapsed from the time the incident call was received from New Hope to the time Rodriguez was able to call for help - after the shooting.

Among the issues still to be determined, as of Friday, is how many bullets struck Ceja. Foreman reported that six were fired from Rodriguez's sidearm.

Also to be determined is why Rodriguez was unable to use pepper spray or a Taser. Foreman said Rodriguez attempted to but was unable.

Friday Foreman said it is his understanding that Rodriguez did use pepper spray and it failed to stop Ceja. It's Foreman's under?standing that Rodriguez considered the Taser and decided it might not stop Ceja either.

"These things happen so fast," Foreman said.

"He may have thought the Taser was not enough force at that point," he added.