Wellton police officer placed on modified duty following officer-involved shooting

WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Wellton Police Department (WPD) says one of their officers is still on modified duty following an officer-involved shooting earlier this year.

On January 16, the officer responded to a call where one person was attacked with a hatchet.

WPD says when officers arrived, a 37-year-old woman charged at an officer with the hatchet, and says the suspect ignored commands, leading the officer to shoot the suspect.

The woman died at the scene.

"It's the standard protocol with an officer involved in a shooting is that the officer will be place on a modified duty status pending the final outcome for Yuma County Attorney's Office," said Detective Nathan Hammond with WPD.

The independent investigation was done by the Yuma County Incident Response Team as they reviewed officer-worn body camera footage, witness statements and physical evidence.