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thedrifter
11-18-06, 04:28 PM
Driver slain by police was Iraq war vet

By Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

November 18, 2006

A suspected drunken driver who was shot and killed after reportedly trying to run over a sheriff's deputy Thursday was identified yesterday as a Camp Pendleton Marine who recently returned from Iraq.

Cpl. Robert J. Medina, 22, who was a motor vehicle operator assigned to the 1st Marine Logistics Group, returned home in August after serving a tour in Iraq, Camp Pendleton officials said.

California Highway Patrol officers tried to stop Medina, who was driving a Dodge Ram pickup, on state Route 78 near Jefferson Street in Oceanside just before 1:30 a.m. on suspicion of drunken driving, but he instead led them on an hour-long chase into Solana Beach, said sheriff's Homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos.

When spike strips didn't work, CHP officers tried ramming their cars into the back of the pickup to force it to spin out and stop.

Officers boxed it in on South Coast Highway between Lomas Santa Fe Drive and Estrella Street.

Medina then rammed one of the patrol cars and accelerated toward a deputy who was standing between the cars, Brugos said.

At that point, the two deputies and two CHP officers opened fire.

The names of the officers and deputies involved have not been released.

Court records show that Medina was jailed last month on suspicion of carrying a deadly weapon.

Vista sheriff's officials said deputies responded to a call of a drunken pedestrian and found an expandable baton in Medina's pocket.

He was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.

Medina, who is from Pueblo, Colo., joined the Marines in January 2003.

His awards include the Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

His family could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Staff writer Debbi Farr Baker contributed to this report.

Kristina Davis: (760) 476-8233; kristina.davis@uniontrib.com

Ellie