Suspect Sticks Flaming Torch In Seattle Police Car Officer Shoots At Him - Was It Justified?

Man taking his torch out for a walk and cops shoot at, but miss.

Seattle, Washington State — The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has released body-worn, dashcam, and surveillance video from the ongoing investigation into the Thursday officer-involved shooting in South Lake Union. The suspect can be seen in the video using a burning piece of lumber to attack an officer in his patrol car. The suspect then runs away as the officer opens fire. Detectives later booked the 37-year-old suspect, who was not struck by gunfire, into King County Jail. The officer, Caleb Pomazon, has been with the Seattle Police Department for one year and is currently on paid administrative leave per department policy. Around 1:30 PM, an officer was in their patrol vehicle in an alley between Dexter Avenue and John Street looking for a man who was reportedly brandishing a flaming piece of lumber.

The officer found the man, who threw the flaming lumber—believed to be a 2×2—into the patrol vehicle while the officer was still inside. Additional responding officers chased the man into a parking garage where they deployed a taser and took him into custody. One officer is believed to have discharged a firearm during the incident. The suspect was not struck. Additionally, as officers were arresting the man, the flames from the burning lumber engulfed the entire patrol vehicle. One officer was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening burns.