State authorities are investigating an incident in which Haines Borough police officer Michael Fullerton fired his gun at a resident Monday morning outside the post office. The man was arrested and no one was injured.
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Borough police released a statement Monday night, saying an officer responded to a report at about 10 a.m. of someone brandishing a knife near the 70 block of Beach Road.
According to his statement included in charging documents, Fullerton said he first made contact with the man walking toward the post office along the Haines Highway. Fullerton said when he got out of his patrol vehicle he saw what he thought was a knife in the man’s hand so he drew his gun, and ordered the man to put down the knife. Fullerton says the man put down the knife, as well as a second that Fullerton had not previously seen, but then suddenly picked them back up and threw one “towards [Fullerton’s] head.” Fullerton says he then fired two shots and the man fled.
Fullerton and another HBPD officer, Maxwell Jusi, chased the man into downtown. Haines resident Carlos Gomez was driving east on Main Street when he saw the chase and confrontation.
“I was [driving] by the brewery when Jusi’s squad car came out, lights blaring, heading my way,” he said “By the time he got [to me], I noticed Fullerton’s squad car. It was pulled in facing the sidewalk in front of Quick Shop.”
Gomez pulled over near the brewery to yield to the police vehicles. Then he saw a man running in his direction.
“They’re coming right towards us,” Gomez said, “and Fullerton [drives his vehicle] onto the sidewalk, into the park, and tries to ram him, to knock [the person] over or something.”
Gomez says the car made contact but the man did not fall.
Officers Jusi and Fullerton stopped their vehicles on either side of Gomez’s parked car. Gomez said Jusi blocked the man from running away, then Fullerton tackled the man and restrained him.
Gomez didn’t see either officer draw their gun.
The man was arrested and charged with two counts of third-degree assault, a class C felony. Class C felonies carry a punishment of up to five years in prison, according to state statute.
The man was being held at the Haines rural jail after his arrest but was released Wednesday on $5,000 bail. Conditions include that he avoid Fullerton and not leave Haines.
Haines police requested that the Alaska Bureau of Investigations – part of the Alaska State Troopers – handle the investigation into the incident. Once completed, the investigation will be reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.
Officer Fullerton has been placed on leave in accordance with Department of Public Safety guidelines.
Editor’s note: The headline on this story has been updated to indicate that interim police chief Michael Fullerton fired at one resident.