RPD Chief: Officers' Actions Justified In State St. Shooting
By: WROC-TV
Updated: January 30, 2013
Rochester Police are talking about an officer-involved shooting. Two officers fired shots at a amn who was being evicted from a downtown apartment. They say the man had a weapon and attacked officers.
Police Chief Jim Sheppard says Tuesday's eviction escalated into violence after the tenant, Timothy Powell, wielded a knife and wrestled with an officer. Backup was called in. This happened on the third floor of the Cooper Union Apartments owned by the Volunteers of America. The VOA says Powell had not been paying rent. Police say Powell allowed officers and a city marshall inside but refused to leave.
They say he attacked an officer with a knife. When backup arrived, police say Powell sprayed bleach in four of the officers' faces. Police shot a taser but it did not reach Powell, so they say two officers, Antonio Gonzalez and James Ott, fired one shot each at Powell. The tenant was hit in the hip. He is in satisfactory condition at Strong. Chief Sheppard says the officers' actions were justified.
"Based on our preliminary view we believe that their response and use of deadly physical force was consistent with their training. The investigation will be submitted to the grand jury and they will make a determination in terms of justification," Sheppard said.
Gonzalez and Ott will be on administrative leave with pay. Gonzalez was involved in a shooting in June. The officers are out of the hospital but two will receive extra treatment with an eye specialist.
Police Chief Jim Sheppard says Tuesday's eviction escalated into violence after the tenant, Timothy Powell, wielded a knife and wrestled with an officer. Backup was called in. This happened on the third floor of the Cooper Union Apartments owned by the Volunteers of America. The VOA says Powell had not been paying rent. Police say Powell allowed officers and a city marshall inside but refused to leave.
They say he attacked an officer with a knife. When backup arrived, police say Powell sprayed bleach in four of the officers' faces. Police shot a taser but it did not reach Powell, so they say two officers, Antonio Gonzalez and James Ott, fired one shot each at Powell. The tenant was hit in the hip. He is in satisfactory condition at Strong. Chief Sheppard says the officers' actions were justified.
"Based on our preliminary view we believe that their response and use of deadly physical force was consistent with their training. The investigation will be submitted to the grand jury and they will make a determination in terms of justification," Sheppard said.
Gonzalez and Ott will be on administrative leave with pay. Gonzalez was involved in a shooting in June. The officers are out of the hospital but two will receive extra treatment with an eye specialist.
