A Redmond man who was shot twice by a Redmond Police officer has been charged with first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree assault after he went on a drunken rampage, armed with a large knife.
Edward Gutierrez was shot in the left hand and the right backside area by officer J.P. Gresham early last Saturday after Gutierrez threatened Gresham and a neighbor with a foot-long kitchen knife, according to charging documents.
The incident began shortly after midnight when Gutierrez was blaring loud music from his car near his residence at Scarborough Townhomes on 149th Way Northeast. The loud music woke up neighbor James Hoover, who went outside and asked Gutierrez to turn his music off. Hoover’s adult son, Jesse, followed his dad outside.
Gutierrez didn’t comply, so James told Gutierrez he was going to call the police, according to court papers. James turned to walk away and Gutierrez came after him. That’s when Jesse put Gutierrez in a headlock. Gutierrez passed out for several moments, but came to, grabbed a box-cutter type knife and tried to attack Jesse, who then punched out Gutierrez.
James took the knife from a bloodied Gutierrez, who awoke after the hit to the face, got back up and threatened he was going to get a gun. James ran to his apartment, locked the door and called 911.
Moments later, while James was on the phone with the 911 operator, Gutierrez broke down James’ front door and threatened him with a large kitchen knife.
That’s when Gresham arrived and ordered Gutierrez to drop the knife. Gutierrez did not comply. Instead he continued to go after James. Then he suddenly turned around, faced Gresham and raised the knife up like he was going to stab Gresham, who then shot Gutierrez. Gutierrez was about 10 feet from Gresham when Gresham fired shots, according to court documents.
“Officer Gresham ordered Gutierrez to stop,” the court papers said. “Officer Gresham drew his handgun because he was concerned the male had failed to comply with his commands to stop and he had a knife. Also, Gresham felt the male could stab him …”
Gutierrez was treated at the scene and then transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Gutierrez is in stable condition and under watch by the King County Jail correction officers.
Gutierrez doesn’t have a criminal background, but was arrested in 2005 in California for driving under the influence.
Gresham, 27, has been placed on administrative leave as the King County Sheriff’s Office conducts an investigation. Both are standard procedures to avoid conflicts of interest and help with emotional stress.
According to Jim Bove, community outreach facilitator for the Redmond Police department, there have been three incidents where a Redmond Police officer has shot a suspect in the last 30 years. Saturday’s shooting was the first since 2005.