Original Article DPS officer feared for life in fatal shooting Emily Bittner The Arizona Republic Jan. 13, 2005 12:00 AM An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer feared for his life and wanted to eliminate a perceived threat when he fatally shot an unarmed man in September, according to a report released Wednesday. At the time of the shooting, James Moreland's girlfriend told reporters the incident was unprovoked. But Officer Jarom Lewis, 27, contradicted her story. He said he stopped the couple on Sept. 25 on Arizona 87 near Rye for criminal speeding. Janice Worthington of Mesa was driving and Moreland was reclining in the passenger seat. Lewis said Worthington admitted to him that she recently smoked marijuana at a location about 15 miles away. She gave him permission to search the car and Moreland grew visibly agitated, Lewis told investigators. Moreland got out of the car. Lewis told him to stay where he was and Moreland reached into the car behind the passenger seat. At that point, Lewis believed he was going to be shot, according to the report. He fired four times, fatally hitting Moreland in the chest. The Gila County Attorney's Office is reviewing the case. County Attorney Daisy Flores said her office expects to finish the review in six weeks.