A man was shot by a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy after he attempted to stab a mall security officer and brandished a knife on the deputy. The call came in from the security department at the Santa Rosa Plaza at about 5:38 PM. Security officers told the Santa Rosa Police Department that a man stole items from a store and when a security officer attempted to stop him, the man pulled a knife and attempted to stab his face. The man fled the mall north on Morgan Street.
A nearby Sheriff’s deputy received the “be on the lookout” announcement and contacted a man who matched the description of the suspect on 9th St at Morgan St near the mall. The deputy stopped his patrol car and the man walked by the deputy, refusing commands to stop. The deputy gave warnings and deployed his Taser which had no effect on the man. As the deputy tried to get in front of the man to stop him from walking away, the man retreated backwards and ran to the deputy’s patrol car and entered the driver’s seat.
An altercation ensued as the man pulled the door shut while brandishing a knife towards the deputy as the deputy tried to open the door. The deputy shot his service weapon towards the man which struck him at least three times. The man was treated for his injuries at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and remains there with significant but what is reported to be non-life threatening injuries.
Based on the countywide policy governing police shootings, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office invoked the protocol and the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Sonoma County DA’s Office will be investigating the shooting. All future press releases will be issued by the SRPD.
