Alvarez Reveals New Details In Police Shooting
MIAMI (CBS4) -- When Miami-Dade police officers Amanda Haworth and Roger Castillo entered the Liberty City home of Loretta Simms, they had no idea the fugitive they sought was inside.
That fact, according to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, can explain why SWAT was not with them and why they were surprised by Johnny Simms, 22, who subsequently shot them both dead with a .40-caliber semiautomatic Glock before another officer shot and killed him as well.
This new piece of information was revealed by Alvarez during an interview on This Week in South Florida with Michael Putney on WPLG-Channel 10, reports CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
He said while Amanda Haworth and Roger Castillo were knocking on Simms' door, other detectives were looking for the man in up to four other Miami locations.
Why was SWAT not used?
``It's a completely different scenario,'' Alvarez answered during the interview. ``This is not a case where you know, for a fact, that there is an armed subject in the house so you call in SWAT, which can plan an attack and bring special tactics.''
Alvarez also indicated that the methods employed by Haworth and Castillo were normal protocol.
``The warrants bureau does this every single day of their lives,'' he said.
The Glock used by Simms to kill the officers evidently was stolen.
The Miami Herald reports that sources close to the investigation have said Loretta Simms let the officers into her home and it was after they had entered that her son sprang out of another room and began shooting.
It is not known whether Loretta Simms will face charges since they were harboring her fugitive son.
Alvarez said the State Attorney's office will be investigating what involvement family members had in the situation.
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