Legislation enforcement officers responding Nov. 13 to a home in Camas, the place a Clark County deputy later shot a person, had been notified of a security bulletin that the person had beforehand threatened to die by police, in accordance with a video abstract launched Wednesday by the sheriff’s workplace.
Deputy Forrest Gonzalez, who fired his weapon, could be heard on physique digicam footage saying, “I’m going to take a shot on this guy if he’s pointing (a gun) at us.” He can then be heard asserting “shot away,” earlier than firing three photographs at 41-year-old Patrick Wetzel, who was seated in his SUV within the driveway.
The video begins with a timeline that begins about 10 p.m. when callers reported to 911 listening to gunshots within the neighborhood close to the 2300 block of Everett Road.
A couple of half-hour later, responding officers noticed Wetzel within the driveway and discovered he was prohibited by a home violence no-contact order from being on the home. Legislation enforcement additionally discovered Wetzel could also be armed with a revolver, the video states.
Shortly after 11 p.m. an armored sheriff’s workplace automobile pulled into the driveway, and deputies and Vancouver police exited the automobile and took cowl behind it. Officers could be heard over the radio saying Wetzel has a gun, and he was pointing it on the armored automobile. Wetzel, inside his automobile within the driveway, can be heard repeatedly yelling for police to get off his property, in accordance with the video abstract.
Footage from Gonzalez’s physique digicam captured him leaning out from behind the armored automobile, earlier than he tells the opposite officers he’s going to fireplace.
The video abstract additionally reveals a split-screen of Gonzalez’s physique digicam and a splash digicam on the armored automobile. Wetzel could be seen on the sprint digicam transferring round inside his SUV whereas officers say he has a gun. However a water droplet on the armored automobile’s windshield conceals the view of Wetzel when Gonzalez fires.
The video additionally reveals a number of officers, together with Gonzalez, offering Wetzel medical help for a gunshot wound the place his shoulder meets his neck. Officers could be heard saying that Wetzel’s gun was on the floorboard of his automobile.
Wetzel was handled at a neighborhood hospital earlier than he was booked into the Clark County Jail, investigators mentioned.
He was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not responsible to second-degree assault, first-degree housebreaking, second-degree illegal possession of a firearm, safety order violation, third-degree malicious mischief, aiming/discharging a firearm and resisting arrest. His trial is scheduled for April 21, court docket information present. He stays out of custody after posting his bond.
The video states 4 deputies had been positioned on depart after the capturing, per commonplace protocol, however three of them have returned to patrol. Gonzalez remained on depart as of Wednesday.
The Washington State Patrol is investigating the capturing as part of the Southwest Washington Impartial Investigation Workforce. The Camas Police Division is investigating the allegations towards Wetzel.