Audio By Carbonatix
Louie Puroll, a former Pinal County sheriff’s deputy whose tale about getting shot by illegal-alien dope smugglers in the desert near Interstate 8 came under fire last year, is not, repeat not, back on the job.
A colleague pointed out a comment attached online to one of his stories that claimed Puroll — who was fired late last year for lying to internal-affairs investigators after our follow-up story about his case raised new questions about his bona fides — has been wearing his sheriff’s uniform in public.
We got to know Deputy Puroll a little during our reporting of his wacky yarn, and we just can’t picture the good-old-boy donning his old uniform these days under any circumstance.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
But, what the heck, we contacted Pinal County sheriff’s spokesman Tim Gaffney to ask if we were missing something.
No, Gaffney told us, saying, “I would be highly shocked if he was wearing a uniform since he was terminated. He is still in the appeal process and has submitted a letter demanding a merit hearing.”
Some stories never quite end.
