By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer has concluded a sheriff’s deputy’s fatal shooting of a Napavine man earlier this month along state Route 6 near Boistfort was justified.
Gregory S. Kaufman
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Matt Wallace was placed on administrative leave after the Nov. 1 encounter in which 64-year-old Gregory S. Kaufman died.
In a letter released Wednesday by Meyer describing his legal analysis to the lead investigator in the case, Meyer outlines a scenario similar to what the sheriff’s office has already said: Deputy Wallace stopped to assist a parked motorist, who he found was suicidal and who subsequently exited his vehicle and advanced upon him with a knife.
Kaufman was struck by two bullets as Wallace retreated, apparently backing up toward the highway in the dark.
Meyer writes the deputy had no other choice:
“When the legal standard is applied to the facts at hand, it is clear that Deputy Wallace was justified when he used deadly force against Gregory Kaufman.”
According to the document, Kaufman was arrested two days prior for alleged misdemeanor assault of his girlfriend, Vicky L. Henthom and a no contact order was put in place.
A Chehalis police officer contacted Kaufman by phone the evening of Oct. 31, asking Kaufman to come to the police department to discuss a violation of the order; because Kaufman had left a note for his girlfriend on her car, according to the document.
Kaufman never appeared at the police station, Meyer writes.
The deadly encounter at a large gravel turnout just east of the South Fork Chehalis RIver Bridge later that night lasted five minutes, according to Meyer.
Meyer gives the following account:
The deputy, alone on patrol, approached the driver’s side door of the car and found Kaufman sitting in the reclined passenger seat.
Deputy Wallace spoke to Kaufman through a tinted, fogged up window and asked Kaufman if he was okay. Kaufman indicated he was fine and just had a nose bleed.
Deputy Wallace seeing cut marks and dried blood on Kaufman’s wrist as well as blood stains on his abdomen – but no blood on his mustache – said he didn’t believe him and asked if he’d been cutting himself.
Kaufman nodded yes, then turned his head and pointed to a neck wound, prompting the deputy to ask 911 dispatchers to send aid.
The deputy asked Kaufman to unlock the door, which he did.
With the door open, the two spoke. Kaufman became emotional, said he’d left a note for Vicky and was concerned about violating the no contact order.
The deputy tried to reassure him he was only concerned about getting him help.
Wallace asked Kaufman where the knife was. Kaufman reached to his right and brought up a knife with a five-inch blade.
Wallace asked him to place it on the dashboard and at first it appeared he would comply.
Then Kaufman looked at the knife, looked at Wallace and then reached over to open the passenger door and got out with the knife in his hand.
Wallace drew his weapon and told him to drop the knife, but Kaufman began to advance on the deputy, with the point of the knife aimed at the deputy.
Wallace repeatedly told Kaufman to drop the knife; Kaufman did not respond but continued to advance, having walked around the rear of his car.
Wallace radioed dispatch to say the man was coming at him with a knife, continued to retreat toward state Route 6.
Then – at 12:16 a.m. – Wallace fired two shots. Kaufman immediately fell to the ground.
Noticeably absent from the narrative are descriptors of Kaufman’s movements, such as “lunged” or “charged” which the sheriff’s office reported in its initial account that morning.
Meyer’s document places Kaufman about 20 feet from his car and Deputy Wallace about 35 feet from the car when he fired his weapon.
The autopsy found a bullet wound to the abdomen, a fatal bullet wound to the head and superficial cuts on the side of his neck and on one wrist. A notepad found on the car seat contained a document titled “Last will and testament.”
Meyer’s information comes primarily from an investigation conducted by the Regional Sheriff’s Critical Incident Investigation Team. The group is made up of deputies from the surrounding counties of Thurston, Pacific, Mason and Grays Harbor and the Washington State Patrol.
Thurston County Sheriff’s detective Cameron Simper was the lead investigator.
Wallace, 37, has been with the sheriff’s office for nine years. Prosecutor Meyer notes he is authorizing the return of Wallace’s duty weapon to him.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said on Wednesday evening she did not know when Deputy Wallace would be back at work.
Last year, when Deputy Matt McKnight fatally shot a citizen, an internal investigation was not completed until a week after the prosecutor completed his review of the outside investigation.
•••
Read Prosecutor Meyer’s letter detailing his investigative conclusions, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
If some idiot came at me with a knife, I would shoot him too . . . and I would do it before he had a chance to charge me and stab.
What is it with all these nitwits pulling weapons on armed police? Even worse are the morons who defend them. Seriously! I would love to see what any of you defenders would do in the same situation.
OK, you’re not an expert…it was sarcasm. That said, I will submit that while you may think you know what you are talking about, you are in fact mistaken. Let me elaborate, by answering your concerns:
“You’re trying to exaggerate a person’s observation that cops in employ by the Lewis Co. Sheriff’s office kill with impunity.You’re trying to exaggerate a person’s observation that cops in employ by the Lewis Co. Sheriff’s office kill with impunity.”
Well, if that were the case there would be a lot of dead people in Lewis County. “Impunity” would suggest that the police kill people with relative frequency, without cause, at will, and without consequence. I’m not seeing that…anywhere this side of reality.
“So by your logic, it’s a done deal. The son was protecting his mother from imminent danger from his father!!!”
Don’t know where your going with this.
“Why would he feel the need to “retreat”? He’s armed with every means necessary to confront any and all danger!”
In order to give himself that 20 ft reactionary gap…or more, in a fight, distance is your friend. But, to point out the obvious, you can’t let someone just chase you around the car with a knife, all night. I guess by your logic he should just keep backing up until he got back to the sheriff’s office? And cops don’t carry “every means necessary to confront any and all dangers.” Most cops carry on their person, a pistol, ammunition, a taser (maybe), perhaps a folding knife, a expandable night stick (maybe), OC spray (mace for the uneducated), and a radio. That is far from being prepared “…to confront any and all danger!”
“Apparently (corrected your spelling) it’s 20 feet, but does “standing your ground” in Washington State mean the same as in Texax or Somalia?”
Depends…I’d say yes to Texas, but the last timeI was in Somalia the bad guys had rifles, RPGs and heavy machine guns mounted on vehicles, so standing your ground was relative to the threat.
“If you’re a police officer, it is your duty to exhaust all NON LETAHL methods before employing deadly force. Unless of course you live in Lewis County or Rwanda!”
Okay, so by your logic, if someone is armed with a knife the officer should first get close enough to hit him with a baton and if that doesn’t work, spray him with “mace” AND if that doesn’t work, shoot him with a taser, And if that doesn’t work engage him man to man with his own knife, AND if that doesn’t work…eventually shoot him in the leg or some extremity, And then if THAT doesn’t work, then shoot him in the chest…is that right? So, if the assailant is armed with a gun…does the officer still have to exhaust all of those options? That would be beyond the laws of reason. If that were the case we would be burying a lot more police officers every year. But I guess you’d be ok with that. I’m guessing you have never been in a serious fight for your life, and I am sure you have no concept of the dynamics that take place during a close in fight, under stress and in mere seconds from start to finish. So I’ll cut you some slack.
“You’re a cop, you’re trained to bring suspects in ALIVE and not murdered!”
Not quite…cops are not, nor should they be expected to sacrifice themselves to bring in a violent, armed bad guy alive. That would be ridiculous.
“We all know you’re just trying to defend an outdated and corrupt political system that has not only outgrown its own usefullness, but has become a viable deadly threat to the civilian populace at large..”
Well, now who’s talking gibberish?
“Wow, have any of you police use of force “experts” ever heard of the 22 ft rule.”
Nobody so far has professed to be an “expert”. You’re trying to exaggerate a person’s observation that cops in employ by the Lewis Co. Sheriff’s office kill with impunity.
“That’s the distance at which a person, armed with a knife can still cover the gap between themselves and and armed person and do damage before the armed person can respond, be that armed person a cop or civilian.”
So by your logic, it’s a done deal. The son was protecting his mother from imminent danger from his father!!!
“If you read the story, it says the deputy retreated and kept retreating.”
Why would he feel the need to “retreat”? He’s armed with every means necessary to confront any and all danger!
“At what point do you stop and stand your ground?”
Apprently it’s 20 feet, but does “standing your ground” in Washington State mean the same as in Texax or Somalia?
“Walking backwards on gravel in the dark could eventually lead to you falling on your ass. Now you have a guy with a knife on top of you while your on the ground. Sound like fun to you…uh experts?”
Again, there are no experts here. Just concerned citizens outraged by so many civilians dying by the hands of people entrusted to protect them. Why should we train police officers to do their duty WITHOUT killing them if we just allow them to do whatever they want? Why not just give a badge to any person willing to shoot first and ask questions later?
“As for the taser, or other “non-lethal” alternative, I’ll ask you this; if someone was coming at you with a knife, would you want a “stun-gun” or a “real” gun?”
If you’re a police officer, it is your duty to exhaust all NON LETAHL methods before employing deadly force. Unless of course you live in Lewis County or Rwanda!
“Would you wait until he’s close enough kill you if the taser fails?”
You’re a cop, you’re trained to bring suspects in ALIVE and not murdered!
“They do you know. They are not fool proof, in fact when they are deployed, the manufacturer suggests that another cop have his weapon at the ready in case the taser fails, especially if the bad guys is armed with anything other than a gun. It should also be noted that the manufacturer discourages using the taser on people armed with knives if the officer is alone., because it is not a 100% guarantee the taser will solve the problem. If my kid were a cop, I would not want him betting his life on a piece of techno crap. I would hope he would bring a gun to a knife fight.”
You’re speaking neo-con Republican jibberish at this point.
“If you fools hate cops, fine. But not every cop is a thug or a punk. In fact it has been my experience that most are honorable people doing a thankless job. My guess is it’s mutts like you who make it that make that job much harder to do. So, let me ask you something…do you guys hate cops ’cause one stole your girlfriend or something. Or is it because every time you do something stupid there’s a cop there to see it? Just curious.”
Again, nobody hates cops. People are sick of corrupt cops who shoot first and let other people ask questions later.
We all know you’re just trying to defend an outdated and corrupt political system that has not only outgrown its own usefullness, but has become a viable deadly threat to the civilian populace at large..
The Justice Dept. would be wise to investigate.
Wow, have any of you police use of force “experts” ever heard of the 22 ft rule. That’s the distance at which a person, armed with a knife can still cover the gap between themselves and and armed person and do damage before the armed person can respond, be that armed person a cop or civilian. If you read the story, it says the deputy retreated and kept retreating. At what point do you stop and stand your ground? Walking backwards on gravel in the dark could eventually lead to you falling on your ass. Now you have a guy with a knife on top of you while your on the ground. Sound like fun to you…uh experts?
As for the taser, or other “non-lethal” alternative, I’ll ask you this; if someone was coming at you with a knife, would you want a “stun-gun” or a “real” gun? Would you wait until he’s close enough kill you if the taser fails? They do you know. They are not fool proof, in fact when they are deployed, the manufacturer suggests that another cop have his weapon at the ready in case the taser fails, especially if the bad guys is armed with anything other than a gun. It should also be noted that the manufacturer discourages using the taser on people armed with knives if the officer is alone., because it is not a 100% guarantee the taser will solve the problem. If my kid were a cop, I would not want him betting his life on a piece of techno crap. I would hope he would bring a gun to a knife fight.
If you fools hate cops, fine. But not every cop is a thug or a punk. In fact it has been my experience that most are honorable people doing a thankless job. My guess is it’s mutts like you who make it that make that job much harder to do. So, let me ask you something…do you guys hate cops ’cause one stole your girlfriend or something. Or is it because every time you do something stupid there’s a cop there to see it? Just curious.
Was the deputy carrying a stun gun?????? If he was, there was a non-lethal option available…..does anyone know?
Kyle it’s funny we don’t know your entire name. seems like the only person on here that is well known is me. Kyle why don’t you shove it up your ass. I’m sick of name calling punks like you. Because when it comes down to it most of you tough guys run like little girls in the heat of the moment. Your keyboard commando threats are a joke.
Let me guess OldLongJohnson, you have a criminal record? We already know David Low does. The Deputy was clearly in danger and did what any other cop would have done and what he was trained to do so why dont you take your bullshit comments and shove em up your own ass!! If you dont like it here….MOVE!!
I just wanted everone to Know that Washington State is number one for failing to prosecute police officers when it comes to recent statistics. Here’s that info http://www.policemisconduct.net/the-problem-with-prosecuting-police-in-washington-state/ The time has come for a Citizen’s board to judge police officers, not more dirty cops judging dirty cops . Police officers get to see the evidence against them before they are questioned. Police Officers also get breaks and a cooling off peiord before they are questioned. The average citizen never get this special treatment. I Guess the Question is how many other citizens have had enough of police officers killing our citizens without just cause? What can you do to make a difference? speak out call the sheriff’s office and say we want Video Camera’s on our officers and outfitted in the vehicles.. Enough of the Gun Violence!
My prayers go out to the officer and his family, as well as to the family of the deceased.
It is well known within self-defense circles that a man armed with a knife can be an immediate, deadly threat to another person at much longer distances than most people realize. In several classes for ordinary people who carry firearms for self-defense, I have seen many people of various ages, with and without injuries, cover 21 feet in less than two seconds in a classic test called the “Tueller drill.” That’s not a lot of time, and certainly not enough time to risk meeting lethal force with a lesser degree of force that might not be enough to save your life.
As heart-wrenching as the situation is, if the facts are substantially correct I believe this officer made the right call.
The legal standard that would apply in this case (or in any other self-defense case, be it law enforcement or ordinary citizen) in the state of Washington can be found at RCW 9A.16.050.
“When the legal standard is applied to the facts at hand..”
Exactly what “legal standard’ would that be? Perhaps the legal standards used in Kenya or Somalia?
I would like to know to which “legal standard” Meyer refers to that legalizes murder by police officers.
There definitely needs to be a second opinion on this one!
The U.S. Dept. of Justice would be wise to investigate this travesty.
Meyer, the marijuana-hating anti-democrat will stop at nothing to stir shit up and be the center of attention.
I guess justice at the price of two bullets is a lot cheaper than a public defender.
Shame on Lewis County.
Abuse of power! Was non lethal force not thought of? The dude was 20 feet away when he allegedly pulled a knife, how is that a threat towards the cops life?? Shoot 1st and ask questions later? Wtf? Cops are a joke!
Portable Officer Cameras can be purchased for about 3 hundred dollars a piece. I’m sick of taking the police departments word for it. Police officers are masters at filing false and untrue statements.
Advanced police departments have recording equipment in their cars and on their persons. Police corruption is at an all time high and Washington State has the lowest conviction rate of all the states in the union. Where are the Dash Camera Videos? Oh that’s right it’s the dead mans word against the armed officer.