Investigators with the Port of Seattle Police have released several audio and video clips of a confrontation between an Auburn officer and a man he shot while trying to arrest him in May.
The clips show how the officer a struggled with 26-year-old Jesse Sarey, a local transient, investigators said.
Investigators said Sarey had an active warrant for escape from community custody, for failing to register as a sex offender and had a criminal history that showed multiple arrests, including several misdemeanor convictions.
Investigators said the officer is heard on his patrol car’s video system reminding Sarey to stop kicking and throwing stuff and to put his hands behind his back.
Sarey tells the officer he hasn’t done anything and then the officer tells him he is under arrest for disorderly conduct, investigators said.
Investigators said moments later, Sarey tells the officer to keep his hands off him and then audio of a scuffle is heard.
The officer said in a statement Sarey reached around him and attempted to take the gun from his holster, investigators said. Sarey reportedly grabbed a folding knife out of the officer’s jumpsuit pocket and the officer believed Sarey was about to stab him in the face or neck when the officer drew his firearm, according to investigators.
During the struggle, two shots were fired and Sarey died.
Investigators said the officer fired one shot to Sarey’s chest and seconds later, the officer fired another shot, believing Sarey continued to pose a threat and may have still been armed with the knife.
The officer was not injured.
Witnesses told KIRO 7 Sarey had been acting out and appeared to be having a breakdown.
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