Police sued for firing 122 shots, killing trucker in mental health crisis

The Nogales (Ariz.) Police Department, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department, eight Nogales police officers and one county sheriff’s deputy were all sued over the death of truck driver Glen Cockrum, CBS affiliate KOLD reported May 25.

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Officers allegedly fired 122 shots in 90 seconds into the cab of Mr. Cockrum’s semi-truck after a slow-speed chase, killing him. Mr. Cockrum was known to have bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the report said.

After parking at the wrong warehouse, he was approached by an employee, who contacted the police after speaking with Mr. Cockrum, the report said. When police arrived, he allegedly led them on a slow-speed chase and never left the cab of his truck from the time the police were called until the time he was killed.

The lawsuit alleges the incident is the latest in a pattern of Nogales officers using excessive force on nonviolent people suspected of or charged with committing misdemeanors.

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