Pierce Co. deputies kill car thief after fight

Published 3:08 pm Saturday, October 22, 2011

TACOMA — The Pierce County Sheriff’s office says a 39-year-old suspected car thief was fatally shot by deputies after the man yelled he had a gun and reached for the glove box.

The Tacoma News Tribune reported that Aaron Westby was wanted for assault and fleeing an officer. Warrants were out for his arrest.

Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said deputies encountered Westby in a stolen pickup truck in Tacoma Saturday morning. A struggle ensued when deputies attempted to arrest Westby. That’s when Westby warned deputies he had a gun.

He died at the scene.

The two deputies were put on a routine administrative leave as the shooting is investigated.