Prosecutor: Police justified in shooting crossbow attacker
A prosecutor says police in northern Washington state acted legally when they shot a man who attacked them with a crossbow.
The Bellingham Herald reported Monday that Whatcom County Prosecutor Eric Richey has determined that county deputies and Bellingham police officers reacted in “good faith” last December when wounding 46-year-old Micah James Godfrey of California.
Richey says police believed they were in “imminent danger” when Godfrey shot an arrow at them and appeared to be preparing for a second shot.
Two officers fired four shots from their handguns and struck Godfrey once in the hip.
Police were responding to 911 calls reporting a man threatening people in a park with a machete.
Godfrey was declared not competent to stand trial and is expected to be held at a psychiatric facility.
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Information from: The Bellingham Herald, http://www.bellinghamherald.com
