By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON — A woman who was shot by a D.C. officer after refusing to drop a knife had been using synthetic drugs mixed with PCP and yelled “I’m ready to die,” during the incident according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Washington Post.
Renita Nettles, 22, confronted officers with knives and hammers after setting fire to her house. The now viral video shows her failure to comply with the officer’s order to drop her weapon. She was shot in her left shoulder and has been in serious condition at a hospital since August 9.
After the shooting, 30 officers arrived on scene to keep order. Nettles’ sister charged police and punched one officer in the face. She was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer. She also spit on arresting officers.The assaulted officer suffered a concussion.
Court documents show Nettles suffers from mental illness and was not taking her prescriptions. Her mother told police she had been taking PCP mixed with synthetic drugs.
After an emergency health evaluation in July, a Superior Court ruled on July 23 that a psychiatrist and police did not prove Nettles posed a threat. D.C. laws only allow someone to be held if they are proven to be a danger to themselves or others.
When police arrested Nettles August 8, she had a bag attached to her waist containing more knives.
Nettles’ mother told authorities she accidentally set the house ablaze with the stove, but officers wrote in their report the fire started in a closet full of clothes and other household items near the kitchen. Police also reported extension cords were tied to doorknobs and firefighters tripped over them on the way inside.
Damage on the D.C. Housing Authority owned home was estimated to be $40,000. An investigation is still going.