Washington police cleared for fatal shooting of Mexican farmer who was high on crystal meth

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Unarmed Antonio Zambrano-Montes, 35, was filmed running away from the police officers before they shot at him 17 times in Pasco
The February 10 shooting was criticized by the Mexican government for being a 'disproportionate use of lethal force'
Pasco Police Department found on Wednesday that the three officers involved 'did not violate Department policies and procedures'
It said officers Adam Wright and Adrian Alaniz will return to duty immediately, while the third officer left the Department earlier this year
A group calling for police reform condemned the ruling, saying: 'The police investigated themselves and cleared themselves of all wrongdoing'
Orchard worker Zambrano-Montes was high on crystal meth when he started lobbing rocks at cars at trucks in a supermarket parking lot
When the three officers arrived, Zambrano-Montes allegedly threw stones at them and was tasered six times - but he failed to surrender

Published: 04:38 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 09:27 EST, 24 September 2015

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The three Washington police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a Mexican farm worker earlier this year have been cleared of any wrongdoing by their bosses.

Officers Adam Wright and Adrian Alaniz will return to duty immediately, while the third officer, Ryan Flanagan, has left the department. His resignation was unrelated to the shooting, his lawyer said.

The trio 'did not violate Department policies and procedures', according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Pasco Police Department (PPD).

Consejo Latino, a campaign group for the Hispanic community, condemned the findings of the investigation into Antonio Zambrano-Montes's death.

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Antonio Zambrano-Montes, pictured in a family photo from 2010, was shot dead by police on February 10

A video of the incident captured by a passer-by on a cellphone shows the officers chasing after the suspect (above) in Pasco, Washington

The three cops opened fire after Zambrano-Montes slowed down and turned to face them

The farm worker was hit by seven bullets, an autopsy found. Seventeen bullets were fired

Chairman Rick Rios told the Huffington Post: 'The police investigated themselves and when they were finished they cleared themselves of all wrongdoing.

'No one cares that they sprayed 17 bullets into a crowded intersection to kill an unarmed man. This is the nature of policing in this country.'

Orchard worker Antonio Zambrano-Montes, a 35-year-old father of two, had allegedly been throwing rocks at vehicles in a supermarket parking lot before the three officers arrived.

He then lobbed stones at two of them, according to the police investigation. The cops responded by tasering the suspect at least six times 'with no obvious effect'.

Officer Alaniz told investigators that Zambrano-Montes was repeatedly ordered to drop the rocks he was throwing at them but he yelled at them in Spanish: 'No, kill me ... kill me.'

After he refused their orders they shot at him 17 times. An autopsy report found Zambrano-Montes was hit seven times - and that he was high on crystal meth at the time.

Zambrano-Montes's daughter Erika Zambrano holds a picture of her father during a protest outside City Hall in Pasco earlier this year

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Pasco after the shooting, with the Mexican government claiming there had been 'disproportionate use of lethal force' by the police

The shooting was filmed by a passer-by using a cellphone and uploaded to YouTube. The footage shows Zambrano-Montes, who was from Mexico's Michoacan state, running from the officers.

They give chase and shoot at the suspect as he slows down and faces them with his hands held at waist-height.

The police investigation described Zambrano-Montes's behavior as 'threatening' and said he was probably holding a rock when he was killed.

Soon after the death, the Mexican government condemned the shooting as a 'disproportionate use of lethal force'. The shooting also sparked protests among the large Hispanic community in Pasco.

George Trejo, a lawyer representing the dead man's family, said Zambrano-Montes spoke little English and had wrestled with drug abuse and other personal issues.

'It is unfortunate the PPD has endorsed a policy that permits their officers to gun down unarmed individuals instead of subduing them with non-lethal force,' he added. 'Unfortunately given the atmosphere within the police force, it isn't surprising.'

The shooting is among several fatal incidents across the United States that have put law enforcement agencies under scrutiny over their use of force, particularly against people of color.

A lawyer for the family said: 'It is unfortunate the PPD has endorsed a policy that permits their officers to gun down unarmed individuals instead of subduing them with non-lethal force'

Friends said Zambrano-Montes had spent time in a homeless shelter before his death.

His family has said audio from the incident does not support the claim that Zambrano-Montes yelled 'kill me' - and has argued that none of the officers were in grave danger.

Earlier this month his parents filed a lawsuit against the city on their behalf and on the behalf of Zambrano-Montes's two daughters, who are aged 13 and 15 and live with their mother in California.

The Franklin County prosecutor previously determined that no charges would be brought against the officers.

The internal police review was conducted by the Tri-City Special Investigations Unit, which included investigators from several law enforcement agencies, excluding Pasco Police Department.

A separate investigation was conducted by the Police Policy Studies Council of Spofford, New Hampshire.