2 police officers killed in Calif.; suspect dead

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Two police detectives were fatally shot when they tried to question a man over a report of a sexual assault, and the man later died after a brief chase, authorities said.

Sgt. Loren Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler were shot and killed Tuesday during an altercation at the home of the man, according to police and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's office.

They were shot while following up on allegations that 35-year-old barista Jeremy Goulet made inappropriate sexual advances on a co-worker at her home, authorities said. Goulet was arrested Friday, and The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that he was fired the next day.

Baker, a 28-year veteran of the force, and Butler, a 10-year veteran, had gone to the house where Goulet was living to follow up on the case, authorities said. They were subsequently fired upon and called for backup, and responding officers found Goulet, who died in the gunfire that followed, the sheriff's office said.

"There aren't words to describe this horrific tragedy," said Police Chief Kevin Vogel. "This is the darkest day in the history of the Santa Cruz police department."