This is from December but I haven't watched tv lately.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8RD4C8WFU
Note: it's legal to carry a knife that small in that US state.
Seattle Officer 'Surprised' That Woodcarver's Knife Was Found Closed
SEATTLE -- The Seattle police officer who fatally shot a Native American woodcarver in August testified at an inquest hearing on Wednesday that he was surprised to find that the knife the man was holding was closed after the shooting.
Officer Ian Birk shot John T. Williams on August 30.
In his second day of testimony on Tuesday, Birk said that Williams was not responsive the day of the shooting and took an aggressive stance when told to drop his knife.
Under questioning from the Williams family attorney, Tim Ford, Birk role-played as if he were Williams.
"The knife is up in front of him, and he's not doing anything like putting his hands up, or looking confused, or asking me what's going on, or showing any sign of compliance whatsoever," Birk said. "All I got from him, the only information I got from him, was aggression directed toward me."
Ford showed Birk the knife that Williams was carrying and said that when Birk approached the body, Birk saw that the knife was closed.
"Did you think, 'My God, the knife is closed'?" Ford asked.
"Nothing of that specific nature went through my mind," Birk said. "It did surprise me that the knife was closed, having just seen Mr. Williams holding the knife open in his hand. So I have no idea how that knife was closed (or) if it was the knife I saw initially or not."
A friend of Williams remained suspicious after the day's testimony.
"How did that knife get closed at that time at that specific time?" the friend asked.
Dashboard camera video indicated that Birk shot Williams four seconds after asking him to drop the knife.
Birk concluded his testimony on Wednesday.
The inquest jury's next task is to hear from witnesses.
At the end of the inquest, the jury will be asked a series of questions, which will help prosecutors determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Birk.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/26474404/detail.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8RD4C8WFU
Note: it's legal to carry a knife that small in that US state.
Seattle Officer 'Surprised' That Woodcarver's Knife Was Found Closed
SEATTLE -- The Seattle police officer who fatally shot a Native American woodcarver in August testified at an inquest hearing on Wednesday that he was surprised to find that the knife the man was holding was closed after the shooting.
Officer Ian Birk shot John T. Williams on August 30.
In his second day of testimony on Tuesday, Birk said that Williams was not responsive the day of the shooting and took an aggressive stance when told to drop his knife.
Under questioning from the Williams family attorney, Tim Ford, Birk role-played as if he were Williams.
"The knife is up in front of him, and he's not doing anything like putting his hands up, or looking confused, or asking me what's going on, or showing any sign of compliance whatsoever," Birk said. "All I got from him, the only information I got from him, was aggression directed toward me."
Ford showed Birk the knife that Williams was carrying and said that when Birk approached the body, Birk saw that the knife was closed.
"Did you think, 'My God, the knife is closed'?" Ford asked.
"Nothing of that specific nature went through my mind," Birk said. "It did surprise me that the knife was closed, having just seen Mr. Williams holding the knife open in his hand. So I have no idea how that knife was closed (or) if it was the knife I saw initially or not."
A friend of Williams remained suspicious after the day's testimony.
"How did that knife get closed at that time at that specific time?" the friend asked.
Dashboard camera video indicated that Birk shot Williams four seconds after asking him to drop the knife.
Birk concluded his testimony on Wednesday.
The inquest jury's next task is to hear from witnesses.
At the end of the inquest, the jury will be asked a series of questions, which will help prosecutors determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Birk.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/26474404/detail.html