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Controversy over extra bullet

The defense attorneys for former city police officers charged in the death of 21-year-old Santanna Olavarria argued to exclude an unaccounted-for bullet found in the rear driver’s side door of Olavarria’s car. If the bullet is determined to have been fired from one of the officers’ guns, it would contradict the accounts of the officers.

From Exclusion of bullet sought in ex-officers’ trials in the RTD:

The fatal May 29, 2004, shooting, investigated by state police, began as a traffic stop at Mechanicsville Turnpike and Fairfield Avenue and escalated when Couture struggled to get Olavarria out of his car. The car began to move with Couture ending up head-first in the front passenger seat next to the suspect.

According to documents submitted by prosecutors, Olavarria had his hands raised and was saying “don’t” as Couture shot and fatally wounded him.

Baugh had said Couture fired one bullet that struck and killed Olavarria and that Aeschlimann then fired four times, also striking Olavarria.