GetItOn
08-11-2005, 22:07
By Becky Pallack and Tom Beal
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
While authorities continue to investigate an horrific accident west of Tucson on Wednesday night that claimed the lives of a Pima County Sheriff's deputy, a Good Samaritan and a suspect, relatives, friends and colleagues are remembering the men.
"The Pima County Sheriff's Department has suffered a tremendous loss of a courageous deputy," a press release from the agency stated. "Deputy Timothy Graham made the ultimate sacrifice, and will be remembered always."
Graham, 30, and Dawud Isa Abusida, 56, had been struggling with Aaron Swyers, 23, in the median near West Ajo Way and South Kinney Road when the trio fell into the road and was hit by a truck driven by a 70-year-old man, who had his 12-year-old grandson with him.
Graham went to a Circle K at the intersection around 8 p.m., after a 911 call reported a "crazed man" at the store. Abusida, who saw the deputy's struggle, parked his car and ran to help. With his assistance, Graham was able to get handcuffs on one of the suspect's wrists.
"This is a very somber day," sheriff's Capt. Rick Kastigar said Thursday morning. "We're very saddened not only by the tragic death of our officer, but also by the tragic death of a good Samaritan who tried to help our officer. We are also deeply troubled that the suspect died. This has affected each of us to the soul."
According to a biography released by the Sheriff's Department, Graham had wanted to become a law enforcement officer since childhood. He had worked for several Chicagoland security companies before moving to Arizona to pursue a job with the state Department of Corrections.
He joined the Sheriff's Department in 2002.
Dawud Abusida was a Palestinian, who'd been living in Saudi Arabia, where he knew the future would not be bright for him, his wife and four children.
He came to the University of Arizona, where he earned a Master's degree in Food Science in 1979. He returned to Tucson in 1987 and his family followed in 1989.
His co-workers remembered him as kind, honest and intelligent.
"He was just a wonderful person, a real professional driver," said Donnie Lucius, general manager of Discount Cab, where Abusida worked until two months ago, when he started his own cab business.
"To be honest with you, it doesn't surprise me, what he did. He was just a really good guy."
Lyle Wamsley, general manager of AAA Yellow Cab, where Abusida also worked, called him "one of the kindest and most compassionate, honest people you could meet. He always had time for everyone, wanted to shake your hand and was willing to sit down and talk to about anything. He was just a real caring guy, very religious."
Sheriff's Department officials held a mid-afternoon press conference to release more information on the case.
Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said deputies had responded to three 911 calls regarding Swyers on Wednesday between 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. The first was from his mother's house. Swyers made the latter calls after apparently taking a cab to the area where the accident occurred.
It was unclear if Abusida had been that taxi driver, Dupnik said.
He said deputies have an extensive history with Swyers involving criminal acts as well as mental health issues and suicide attempts.
The investigation is ongoing, although Arizona Department of Public Safety accident investigators finished their task of reconstructing the accident around 4 a.m., said Officer Jim Oien, a department spokesman. The Sheriff's Department requested DPS investigate.
By 7 a.m., remnants of crime scene tape and silk roses attached with duct tape started makeshift memorials on a "Keep off median" sign at the intersection. A lone white rose was taped to a road reflector near the Circle K driveway.
Graham is survived by his wife, Sherry Diebolt-Graham, and two step-sons, ages 8 and 11. The couple had been married only a few weeks. Donations for Graham's family are being accepted at Pima Federal Credit Union under account number 1214181, the Timothy Graham Memorial Fund.
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
While authorities continue to investigate an horrific accident west of Tucson on Wednesday night that claimed the lives of a Pima County Sheriff's deputy, a Good Samaritan and a suspect, relatives, friends and colleagues are remembering the men.
"The Pima County Sheriff's Department has suffered a tremendous loss of a courageous deputy," a press release from the agency stated. "Deputy Timothy Graham made the ultimate sacrifice, and will be remembered always."
Graham, 30, and Dawud Isa Abusida, 56, had been struggling with Aaron Swyers, 23, in the median near West Ajo Way and South Kinney Road when the trio fell into the road and was hit by a truck driven by a 70-year-old man, who had his 12-year-old grandson with him.
Graham went to a Circle K at the intersection around 8 p.m., after a 911 call reported a "crazed man" at the store. Abusida, who saw the deputy's struggle, parked his car and ran to help. With his assistance, Graham was able to get handcuffs on one of the suspect's wrists.
"This is a very somber day," sheriff's Capt. Rick Kastigar said Thursday morning. "We're very saddened not only by the tragic death of our officer, but also by the tragic death of a good Samaritan who tried to help our officer. We are also deeply troubled that the suspect died. This has affected each of us to the soul."
According to a biography released by the Sheriff's Department, Graham had wanted to become a law enforcement officer since childhood. He had worked for several Chicagoland security companies before moving to Arizona to pursue a job with the state Department of Corrections.
He joined the Sheriff's Department in 2002.
Dawud Abusida was a Palestinian, who'd been living in Saudi Arabia, where he knew the future would not be bright for him, his wife and four children.
He came to the University of Arizona, where he earned a Master's degree in Food Science in 1979. He returned to Tucson in 1987 and his family followed in 1989.
His co-workers remembered him as kind, honest and intelligent.
"He was just a wonderful person, a real professional driver," said Donnie Lucius, general manager of Discount Cab, where Abusida worked until two months ago, when he started his own cab business.
"To be honest with you, it doesn't surprise me, what he did. He was just a really good guy."
Lyle Wamsley, general manager of AAA Yellow Cab, where Abusida also worked, called him "one of the kindest and most compassionate, honest people you could meet. He always had time for everyone, wanted to shake your hand and was willing to sit down and talk to about anything. He was just a real caring guy, very religious."
Sheriff's Department officials held a mid-afternoon press conference to release more information on the case.
Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said deputies had responded to three 911 calls regarding Swyers on Wednesday between 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. The first was from his mother's house. Swyers made the latter calls after apparently taking a cab to the area where the accident occurred.
It was unclear if Abusida had been that taxi driver, Dupnik said.
He said deputies have an extensive history with Swyers involving criminal acts as well as mental health issues and suicide attempts.
The investigation is ongoing, although Arizona Department of Public Safety accident investigators finished their task of reconstructing the accident around 4 a.m., said Officer Jim Oien, a department spokesman. The Sheriff's Department requested DPS investigate.
By 7 a.m., remnants of crime scene tape and silk roses attached with duct tape started makeshift memorials on a "Keep off median" sign at the intersection. A lone white rose was taped to a road reflector near the Circle K driveway.
Graham is survived by his wife, Sherry Diebolt-Graham, and two step-sons, ages 8 and 11. The couple had been married only a few weeks. Donations for Graham's family are being accepted at Pima Federal Credit Union under account number 1214181, the Timothy Graham Memorial Fund.