POLICE KILL DRUG CASE SUSPECT

Man Used Gun In Threat, Officers Say

Deadly force was used against a suspected drug dealer Tuesday night
after he threatened Jacksonville police officers with a gun during an
undercover narcotics investigation, police said yesterday.

Dwight James Jr., 26, was fatally shot at the Texaco gas station on
Edgewood Avenue West at Cleveland Road. Police said James and others
were inside a vehicle that was the target of an undercover drug buy.

When marked police units arrived about 9 p.m. to make arrests, a man
got out of the car and aimed a .45-caliber handgun at three officers,
according to police reports. At least two officers opened fire and
James was struck multiple times, police said.

James was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital where he died. Police
reports identify Sgt. William J. Johnson, officer David J. Sosnowski
and officer James W. Walters as the three involved in the shooting.
One man who said he was pumping gas when the shooting began questioned
the officers' account of what happened.

"The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office just jumped out and started
shooting at them boys," said Joe Hogg, a 52-year-old Northside resident.

However, Assistant Chief Steve Weintraub said the truth is James
threatened officers.

"The gun has been recovered, and it has been placed in the property
room," Weintraub said. "It was at the scene. He did have a gun, and he
did have drugs."

Police have not identified the other people in the vehicle with
James.

Weintraub said the three officers have been put on administrative
leave while the shooting is investigated. They will eventually appear
before the police department's use of force board, which will
determine if their actions were justified.

Police said James had a lengthy criminal record including arrests
ranging from attempted murder in 1992 to armed robbery and kidnapping
in 1999. His most recent drug arrest was in 1998 for possession of
marijuana.