Coast Guard officer killed by suspected drug smuggler's boat

Coast Guard officer killed by suspected drug smuggler's boat

By Chris Francescani NEW YORK | Mon Dec 3, 2012 5:17am EST

A second Coast Guard boat pursued the fleeing vessel, detained two unidentified suspects and recovered an unknown amount of marijuana from the vessel, Coast Guard Petty Officer Seth Johnson said.

The officer died Sunday morning after suffering a severe head injury when he was struck and thrown into the ocean near Santa Cruz Island, Johnson said. A second officer thrown overboard sustained minor injuries. His name was not released.

The officer killed was identified as Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III, an investigator with the Ventura County medical examiner's office said.

A Coast Guard patrol aircraft spotted a "panga-type vessel," a small fishing boat with an outboard motor, operating without any lights in the waters off the island, Johnson said.

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