Police Arrest Suspect in CHP Officer’s Death

By The Associated Press

RIPON — A Stockton man was arrested Friday afternoon in the fatal shooting of a California Highway Patrol officer during a traffic stop on Highway 99, authorities said.

Columbus Allen II, 30, was arrested on suspicion of murder after walking into Stockton police headquarters to talk to authorities about the morning shooting, said acting Stanislaus County Sheriff Mark Puthuff.

Officer Earl Scott, 36, was killed about4:40 a.m. during a traffic stop near Ripon, about 10 miles north of Modesto, according to Highway Commissioner Mike Brown.

A motorist who saw the shooting went back to investigate and discovered Scott dead, according to Lt. Bryan Markum of the sheriff’s department, which is helping the CHP with the investigation.

Authorities continued to look for a dark-colored 1990 Nissan Maxima with California license plates, 5KWA335, in connection to the shooting. Officials said Allen is related to the car’s registered owner, identified as Bertera Allen by the DMV.

“We’re here to serve and sometimes, unfortunately, we pay the ultimate price,” Puthuff said.

Scott would have celebrated his five-year anniversary with the CHP Sunday, Brown said. His father was a retired highway patrol sergeant who worked in the Monterey office and two uncles were retired sergeants from the Modesto office, Brown said.

“This strikes very close to home and very deep to the CHP family,” Brown said during a news conference in nearby Salida.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Scott willingly risked his life and served with courage and honor. “California peace officers face grave dangers each day as they go about their duties to protect us,” he said.

Scott was the fifth CHP officer to die on duty since September.

“It’s been happening too frequently. Of course, any time it happens it’s a devastating loss,” said Rick Mattos, president of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, a union of 13,000 active and retired CHP officers. The association may try to name a section of highway after Scott, he said.

“Every officer knows that it could have been them,” Mattos said.

The last CHP officer killed while on duty was Lt. Mike Walker. The 47-year-old Santa Cruz officer was struck by an out-of-control car while he set road flares around an accident on New Year’s Eve.

Officer David Romero, 47, was stopped at a light in Industry when he was hit by a car. He died Sept. 23. The suspected drunken driver pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.

Officer Erick Manny, 35, died Dec. 21 in Kern County during a high-speed chase on Interstate 5. Authorities still are looking for a suspect in that case.

Officer Andy Stevens is the most recent officer shot to death. The 12-year CHP veteran was gunned down Nov. 17 during a traffic stop on a rural road north of Sacramento.