Iris Billy, left, and Josh Anderson.Photo:Gofundme; Navajo County Sheriff’s Office
Gofundme; Navajo County Sheriff’s Office
An Arizona tribal police officer was arrested after authorities allege that he struck and killed a woman with his vehicle before leaving the scene, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office says in a press release.
The White Mountain Apache Police Department responded to a report of a pedestrian struck early Thursday morning, just over two miles south of the Hon-Dah Casino, the sheriff’s office says. The victim was identified as Iris Billy.The next day, White Mountain Apache Police Officer Josh Anderson was arrested after an investigation determined his police vehicle had damage consistent with a pedestrian strike, authorities say. Anderson subsequently resigned from the police department.
AZ Family reported that, according to the sheriff’s office, Anderson, who was on duty, responded to the scene and then was one of the officers who made next-of-kin notifications.
“This is an extremely sad time for the family of the victim, the men and women at the White Mountain Apache Police Department, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe,” the sheriff’s office writes in the press release. “This event is an isolated incident and is not a reflection of the fine police officers that serve and protect the citizens of the White Mountain Apache Reservation every day.”
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It is unclear if Anderson has retained an attorney or entered a plea.
Billy’s sister started aGoFundMeto raise money for her memorial service. According to the description, Billy was the mother of two sons, aged 10 and 9.
“We were expecting her home that morning,” Billy’s sister Phylene Burnette told AZ Family. “They still need her. She was the sole parent, she was everything to them.”
source: people.com
