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Arizona freeway shootings case: Judge denies motion to have DPS director deposed

Published  April 12, 2016 12:50pm MST
FOX 10 Phoenix

PHOENIX (AP) -- Attorneys for a man charged in some of the metro Phoenix freeway shootings last summer have lost their bid to interview Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Frank Milstead as part of the case.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Warren Granville says Tuesday that the request by Leslie Merritt Jr.'s lawyers to question Milstead during a deposition was premature.

Earlier this year, the judge denied Merritt's request to question Gov. Doug Ducey in a deposition.

Authorities say they used ballistic tests to tie Merritt to four of the 11 shootings and left the city on edge.

The investigation into the other shootings remains open.

No one was seriously injured.

Merritt maintains that he is innocent and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He'll be back in court on April 26.