Woman Shot Inside Alton Police Officer's Car Identified, Family Says NOT Suicide

	Woman Shot Inside Alton Police Officer's Car Identified, Family Says NOT Suicide ALTON, IL. - Alton Police say their officer was simply trying to help the woman who shot herself with his gun Wednesday morning. In a Thursday news conference, Chief David Hayes shared new details about the incident, where police say Stephanie Hicks grabbed the officer's weapon and killed herself in h is patrol unit. Hayes says it all began when police were called by Hicks' boyfriend, with whom she appeared to be fighting. He told them she was about to walk to Christian Hospital in north county from Alton. The officer caught up with her on the Alton bridge. "She was adamant about going to St. Louis," Hayes said. "So in light of allowing her to walk 9 ½ miles, our officer asked permission to provide her courtesy transportation to Christian Hospital, which we don't normally do." She was not considered "in custody." The chief repeatedly referred to it as a "courtesy ride." The officer saw no reason to worry about Hicks, who was 5'1" and 100 pounds. So he allowed her to ride in the front seat where the air conditioning was working much better on the 105 degree day. Hayes says this was not a violation of policy. The chief says they rode nearly the entire way to the hospital without Hicks saying a word. Then it happened. "For some reason that we'll never know, only God will, she decided to disarm the officer by surprising him. It was an unexpected move by her. The officer didn't perceive her as a threat. She's a five foot, one hundred pound girl , and nobody in their right mind <b>...</b>	From: NewsPoliticsNow Views: 3 1 ratings
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