Saturday, March 18, 2000
Norwood shooting defended
Officer 'showed great restraint'
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NORWOOD — While Chris Baker remained in serious condition Friday at University Hospital, the city's law and police departments defended the officer who shot him Wednesday.
“When the suspect (armed with two large knives) chose to charge at officer (Mark) Garner, Officer Garner chose to use reasonable force to prevent the compromise of his own safety,” said Assistant City Law Director Stacy Wall.
The police “acted accordingly to the situation. They had backup, maintained cover, had a negotiator present and an (ambulance).”
Ms. Wall called the incident “a suicide by cop” situation. “Indicators of (that) include the suspect demanding to be killed, (that) he wants to die, refuses to negotiate, and expresses hopelessness and helplessness.” All were present, she said.
The assistant law director's assessment will be part of a report being prepared for the Hamilton County prosecutor who will review the incident. About 30 interviews — with Officer Garner, relatives of Mr. Baker, witnesses and other officers at the scene — will be included.
Unless the prosecutor finds some issue with the report, the matter will be closed; however, it could become an issue at Mr. Baker's trial.
The interviews include a talk with Mr. Baker's 12-year-old niece, who suffered bruises when she was allegedly choked and thrown against an apartment wall by Mr. Baker, who is 21. Police said she had no severe physical injury but appeared “mentally traumatized by the incident.”
The only concern voiced by witnesses in interviews involved the officer's decision to shoot Mr. Baker in the chest rather than an extremity.
Marcella Salamanda, 36, who called 911, said Friday that she understands Mr. Baker “was out of control” and needed to be stopped. “But, why didn't they shoot his leg or arm?”
Relatives said Mr. Baker was distraught before the incident over his grandmother's pending hip operation; that he had been drinking; and broke up with a girlfriend.
Mr. Baker came out of the house with the blade of a butcher knife against his throat and flailing a second knife in his other hand, shouting, police and witnesses said.
The officer remains on paid administrative leave.
Asked why Officer Garner fired just one shot, Acting Police Chief John Murphy said: “Only Mark (Garner) can answer that. I can only presume the officer felt the aggression against him had stopped. I believe he showed great restraint.”
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