Drunk Cop Kills Woman and Then Investigates Death

An Arizona tribal officer, Josh Anderson of the White Mountain Apache Police Department, is charged with killing a single mother of two during a hit-and-run on Thanksgiving in a startling and tragic occurrence. Around 3:30 in the morning, Iris Billy, 30, was strolling along State Route 73 when the incident happened.

To exacerbate the disaster, Anderson allegedly left the scene and then came back as one of the investigating officers. The community is in disbelief and outrage over this discovery.

“It is very disturbing, sickening, and heartless,” said Phylene Burnette, the sister of Iris Billy, expressing her distress. Regardless of what he had done to her, he returned and assisted with the investigation.” Burnette went on to emphasize the emotional toll that the family had to bear when she revealed that one of the officers who had notified Iris Billy’s parents of her untimely death was Anderson—who was subsequently lodged into the White Mountain Apache Adult Detention Facility.

Iris Billy, a dedicated single mother, is survived by her two sons, Kolby, age nine, and Imani, age ten. “They still need her,” Burnette said, emphasizing the children’s significant effect. She was their only parent and their entire world.”

When Tribal police discovered that Anderson’s patrol car had damage consistent with a collision with a pedestrian, they soon realized that one of their own officers was the primary suspect in the hit-and-run. Chief Deputy Brian Swanty said, “Who would ever think it was the police car involved that’s back on [the] scene? ” in acknowledgment of the investigation’s unique character. That simply isn’t typical.”

At the time of the event, Anderson, a 20-year veteran of the White Mountain Apache Police Department, was on duty. Charges against him include assault in violation of tribal law, aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault resulting in significant bodily harm, reckless driving, interfering with an officer, fleeing the scene of a fatal incident, and criminal negligence.

After being taken into custody, Anderson left the police force. The FBI has been tasked with conducting additional research on the matter.

In a statement, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office offered their sympathies to the family of Iris Billy and made it clear that this occurrence is singular and does not represent the police officers on the White Mountain Apache Reservation.

The White Mountain Apache community has been greatly impacted by the untimely passing of Iris Billy, and former chairperson Gwendena Lee posted her sympathies on Facebook. As the community comes to terms with the unexpected involvement of one of its own police in such a horrific occurrence, they are also grappling with the tremendous loss and the devastating circumstances surrounding the investigation.