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Crime & Safety

Officers Kill Parolee During Foot Pursuit

The parolee, wanted on suspicion of car jacking, allegedly pulled a gun on the officers.

Two Hemet police officers, who shot a parolee when he allegedly pulled a gun during a foot chase, were on paid administrative leave today while an investigation into the fatal shooting is conducted.

The confrontation occurred around 11 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Kimball Avenue when Rudy Arias, wanted by Riverside County sheriff's deputies on suspicion of carjacking, was spotted by two Hemet patrol officers on Florida Avenue, said Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart.

He said the patrolmen got out of their vehicle and approached Arias, who immediately fled through downtown Hemet. The lawmen quickly caught up to the 27-year-old parolee in a residential section of Kimball Avenue.

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"At this point, the suspect pulled out a handgun and pointed it towards (the) two officers, who fired their handguns, striking the suspect," Wisehart said.

No officers or bystanders were hurt.

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Arias was initially taken to Hemet Valley Medical Center, but due to the extent of his injuries, he was transferred to the trauma unit at Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he was pronounced dead just before 6 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Wisehart, Arias had an extensive criminal past and had been in violation of his parole since being transferred to county custody following early release from prison under the state's "realignment" plan.

Under realignment, which went into effect Oct. 1, many correctional functions, including parole supervision, were shifted from the state to local jurisdictions to save the state money.

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