By Greg Welter
Chico Enterprise-Record
CHICO, Calif. — A Chico police officer shot a man shortly before midnight Sunday, when the suspect refused to drop a pair of large knives and kept walking toward him in the 2700 block of Eaton Road.
Suspect Dwayne Cowart, 31, suffered a non-life-threatening wound to the lower torso. The name of the officer wasn’t released Monday.
Cowart was reportedly cutting himself with the knives Sunday night, according to his wife. She remained on the phone with a police dispatcher as he walked outside his apartment, near the corner of Eaton and Floral Avenue, to confront police.
A dispatcher said Cowart could be heard in the background saying, “They’re gonna have to shoot me,” and, at another point, allegedly claimed he was going to rush police when they showed up.
The first officer at the scene commanded the suspect to drop the knives and get on the ground.
When the man walked closer, the officer fired a single round from his service revolver, which struck Cowart and stopped his advance.
He was given first aid at the scene, then transported to Enloe Medical Center for treatment.
Following medical clearance, Cowart will be booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
The officer was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting. Officials said a multi-agency officer-involved shooting protocol team was assembled Monday to investigate the incident, and will issue a formal finding within two weeks.
Copyright 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved