There is now an investigation into one of the officers who responded to the scene of a officer-involved shooting in Bethel on Tuesday night October 2nd, 2012, where 24-year-old Bethel resident Sam Alexie Jr was shot and killed.

It was reported then that Bethel officers responded to the scene at 188 East Avenue in Bethel to a report of a disturbance. It was during that call that Alexie confronted one of the responding officers with a firearm. After declining to heed officer’s warnings to put down his firearm, Alexie leveled his weapon at an officer, and Alexie was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

A Bethel officer, Samuel Symmes responded to the scene after the shooting. Once there, Symmes was ordered to secure the scene. During the performance of his duties, Symmes was seen to fall two times. It was written off at that time that the conditions at the scene were slippery.

It was reported by the Alaska Native News then that Officer Symmes had slipped on slippery steps and struck the back of his head. He was later found unconscious on the driver’s side of his patrol vehicle. It was believed that he had suffered a concussion when he fell the second time at the shooting location.

But, it was determined at the hospital while Symmes was undergoing treatment for his injuries, that alcohol was detected in one of the blood samples taken from him at the hospital. Later testing of the sample would find that Symmes blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit to drive or to be in the possession of a firearm. Symmes arrived on the scene in his patrol vehicle armed.

A DNA sample has been requested from Symmes for verification of the sample. Symmes attorney has asked that the request be denied, stating the DNA test to be an invasion of Symmes privacy. The judge hearing the case has yet to make a decision on the request.

Symmes has been charged with two counts of DUI and one count of Weapons Misconduct as a result of the blood test.

Symmes left his job within a week of the shooting. He has since gone back to work as a dispatcher.

Related Articles

Bethel Officers Responding to Disturbance Involved in Fatal Officer Involved Shooting

Troopers Release More Details in Officer Involved Shooting in Bethel