Five holes mark the front door of Anita Mecca's mobile home in Napavine. Three pierced through to the inside.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
NAPAVINE – Thirty-nine-year-old Anita Mecca had a bad feeling after she told her new boyfriend to move out of her Napavine home.
He didn’t take it well, she said, remaining outside in her driveway for several hours with dead battery in his van waiting for someone to help him jump start it.
It was Saturday June 18, and at one point later that day, Steven V. Petersen showed all his empty pill bottles to a friend, and another friend described Petersen with some kind of fabric wrapped around his wrists, and saw blood on his arms, Mecca said.
West Vine Street and Second Avenue, Napavine
He tried to do a guilt trip on me, she said, for ending the relationship that was only a couple weeks long.
Mecca, who was raised in Napavine, said she had a friend stay over for two nights, because she was worried what Petersen might do.
“I had a feeling something was going to happen, I put my baseball bat by the door,” Mecca said Thursday as she stood on the porch of her mobile home. “And sure as sh** … I didn’t know he was going to freak out like that.”
“Like that”, according to authorities, is the 33-year-old Napavine man less than two days later returned to her home in the night, used a knife to repeatedly puncture a truck’s steel hood and did the same to her front door, and then less than 20 minutes later charged a sheriff’s deputy who had stopped him on the street.
Petersen died of a gunshot wound to the head around 2 a.m. on June 20. Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt McKnight reportedly fired four times, hitting Petersen with three bullets.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer this week announced he concluded McKnight’s use of deadly force was justified. The 27-year-old deputy remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal review.
Petersen, according to Mecca, lived in Napavine with his wife and young son.
After his wife died unexpectedly last month, Mecca and Petersen began dating and then he moved into her mobile home.
His son had been taken into foster care, she said. His next closest family member is his father, who lives in Missouri, authorities have said.
He didn’t work; he had seizures and took medication for them, Mecca said.
It’s disturbing, she said Thursday.
The holes through the front door of her home, presumably with a large knife, leave her certain Petersen was going to hurt her when he showed up that night.
Mecca said she took his display of empty pill bottle to mean Petersen had ingested all his, of what she recalled was, Prozac and seizure medicine on that Saturday.
“When he got out of his van, he was so messed up he could hardly walk,” she said.
“It’s hard to sleep at night, knowing I was so close to death,” she said. “Then hearing gunshots. One cop told me it wasn’t my fault, I did what I could.”
Prosecutor Meyer on Thursday released his findings, outlining the reasons for his decision about McKnight. The eight page document is in the form of a letter to Thurston County sheriff’s detective Dave Haller, part of the team of officers from outside nearby sheriff’s offices who conducted the shooting investigation.
Some of the information discovered may help explain Petersen’s actions, Meyer wrote, such as apparent suicide attempts, and a note left to his son.
However, the focus of the investigation was whether or not McKnight’s use of deadly force was justifiable.
Meyer said he received the report on Tuesday, and reviewed it along with photos, recordings and video taken at the scene. He had his opinion reviewed by attorneys both inside and outside his office, including Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim, according to the letter.
On Wednesday morning, Meyer met with Sheriff Steve Mansfield and McKnight and gave them a draft of his conclusions, Meyer said.
The elected prosecutor summed it up this way:
Deputy McKnight was told Petersen had used a knife at the home – on the 500 block of West Washington Street – and despite multiple commands heard by others to take his hand out of his pocket, Petersen said, “That ain’t gonna happen”.
Meyer said Petersen was pacing back and forth, and then tensed up his shoulders and started running at the deputy.
“McKnight was left with no choice,” Meyer said. “(Petersen) was intending to do him harm, and McKnight was in fear for his life.”
McKnight fired. According to Meyer, one bullet entered Petersen’s left forearm and exited between his fingers, and another entered his right forearm and his torso and went out the back. The other struck him in the head.
His left hand was still in his jacket pocket, Meyer said.
No weapon was found in the pocket or anywhere else, Meyer said.
“But realize, where the shooting occurred was approximately seven blocks from the incident,” Meyer said.
McKnight did not fire a warning shot, Meyer said; his understanding is that would be contrary to the deputy’s training.
It was just McKnight and Petersen on the street, at the intersection of West Vine Street and Second Avenue, several blocks from Mecca’s home, Meyer said.
Sheriff Steve Mansfield said this week it will take some time to conduct the internal investigation. It will include a “shooting review board”, as well as a review of policy, procedures and training, he said.
It’s like a self-critique of his office, the sheriff said on Thursday.
“To make sure everything is working like it should and there’s nothing we need to change,” Mansfield said.
McKnight, who started at the sheriff’s office a little more than four years ago was one of the younger officers they’ve hired, Mansfield said, and as best he could recall on Thursday without checking, it’s the the first law enforcement agency he’s worked at, he said.
Officers from both inside and outside his office will sit on the shooting review board, he said.
“I have no reason to believe this (for McKnight) will turn out any different than the prosecutor has said,” Mansfield said.
The following are more details from Meyer’s report, the Napavine police incident report, and Mecca, about what happened at Mecca’s home, and afterward.
Late that Sunday night, early Monday morning, Mecca and her friend, 29-year-old Jared Brockman were sitting on the couch when they heard someone tapping on a window and then heard someone on the front porch. It was Petersen. He said, “let me in”, she said. They told him to leave.
Brockman then heard Petersen hitting his truck, so he went outside and yelled at him to knock it off, Mecca said. That’s when Petersen turned and ran towards the front door.
They shut the door, locked it and Brockman leaned against it with his shoulder. Petersen was kicking the door, they thought. They called 911
At 1:57 a.m., Brockman tells 911 a guy is trying to break into the house, and it’s Steven Petersen. Brockman arms himself with a baseball bat.
Law enforcement begins to respond and “set up containment” in the area.
Napavine Police Department Officer Noel Shields is dispatched at 1:59 a.m. He walks into Mecca’s yard with his flashlight. He sees footsteps in the wet grass that lead toward Meadow Lane. He sees Mecca and Brockman on the porch.
Deputy McKnight responds and is sent to the area of Third Avenue and West Vine Street for “containment”.
Also responding are sheriff’s Sgt. Pat Smith and Deputy Kevin Anderson.
Officer Shields observes holes in the hood of the truck and five holes in the front door that appear to be caused by a knife. Three of the punctures went through the door.
Shields informs the other responding officers that Petersen is possibly armed with a large knife.
Shields, in checking the property, gets to the back door and then hears four to five gunshots.
Blocks away and moments earlier, McKnight had seen something in his rearview mirror, a couple blocks from him. He sees something again he concludes is a person near Second and Vine. He turns around and pulls his patrol vehicle to the intersection
McKnight uses his spotlight and stops on one side of the intersection, while the person later identified as Petersen is on the other side.
McKnight exits his patrol vehicle, keeping his distance, and makes contact with Petersen.
McKnight identifies himself and tells Petersen he needs to see his hands.
Petersen paces back and forth, ignoring McKnight, who then draws his weapon.
McKnight tells Petersen he just needs to talk and continues to give him verbal commands..
After being given a verbal command, Petersen told McKnight, “It ain’t gonna happen buddy.”
Petersen’s body posture changes, his shoulders come forward and he begins to advance on McKnight.
McKnight still could not see his hands.
McKnight feared for his safety, and fired his weapon.
After hearing the shots, Shields runs from the Mecca’s house toward the scene. Anderson and Smith arrive.
At 2:14 a.m., Lewis County Fire District 5 is told by a 911 dispatcher to respond.
•••
Read Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer’s findings on Deputy Matt McKnight’s officer-involved shooting from June 20, 2011, here
Read “Breaking news: Deputy shoots, kills burglary suspect in Napavine” from Monday June 20, 2011, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
If what this deputy says is true, then he had every right to use deadly force against Petersen. He should have stopped and followed orders. He knew he had just been involved in an attack on a residence. The deputy had no way to ascertain that Petersen had gotten rid of the knife. In my opinion, this law suit is unfounded. I commend Deputy McKnight for his clear headed use of defense. He goes home to his family, and unfortunately for Petersen, a danger to the community was removed. The only remorse I feel is for Deputy McKnight. He has to live with the reality of having to take another humans life even though it was justified and in self defense.
Thank you Steve… you’ve expressed everything I wanted to say… and especially about the standard procedure to put an officer on admin leave after a fatality. Now that the family wants to take action against Lewis County for wrongful death (or whatever charge they’re seeking), our conversations here can get crazy over that aspect of this chaotic event. I am curious about one thing though, the dead guy’s wife died just 2 wks before he got shot dead… wonder what that was all about and whether it plays a factor here.
You people freaking kill me…. its common knowldedge and practice that during a fatality a cop is put on Admin leave until the investigation is complete. Dont give me this bull shit about military practice cause I’ve been there and done that. The military is different than Law Enforcement. Bottom line is, this guy charged a cop after an attempted assault and refused to comply therefore he was killed and rightfully so!!!! Any reasonable persone in McKnight’s shoes would have done the same thing! Anyone can be an arm chair quarterback, but you werent there!
Lewis County Finest, You’re a freaking Fuck Tard!! This guy attacked a cop after he stapped holes in his X-girlfriends door. Grow up you Retard!!
Just wondering if you read the whole story. A man who stabbed into a door and the police are called to “save the day”. Deputy gets there and the man refuses to show his hands and charges the Deputy. So the Deputy chooses to do the job we expect him to do which is “save the day”
I don’t see how this has anything to do with private property. I’m not a legal expert but I think if a man, who is thought to be armed with a knife and has already attempted to harm someone, were to charge ANYONE they would not be charged as well for protecting them selfs.
Please don’t confuse this issue without reading all of your facts.
He’s a lier and there are videos to prove he should
Be in prision if we shoot a man for being on our
Property for not showing their hands we go to jail
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE ENOUGH SAID
Amber, I would hope that he DOES want to get back to work, doing what a cop is supposed to do (protecting the people from criminals)… that would make him one of the few that actually does the job because it is so important, and because he is dedicated to helping people stay safe. Far too many cops today are only in it for the money (just look at the King County deputies!), or are thugs and criminals who have no business wearing a badge (look at Seattle PD!).
My hope is that, when those demons DO pop up from his shooting and killing a person, that he can look at those demons and put them to rest, knowing that a person with the extreme potential to be a violent offender is no longer a threat to the community that he is sworn to protect.
And how do we know this officer doesn’t want to get off his “vacation” and get back to work? My guess is Mr. McKnight is having his due emotions about shooting a man, but he would do it again in justified circumstances to ensure he comes home safely to his wife and children and so that he protects our county from violent people. Just a guess, a somewhat educated guess. 🙂
DJ, I DO understand that it is never an easy thing to fire a weapon at someone and take a life… but do you think they put the military on “paid administrative leave” when they do so? No, they do not. They never gave ME any time off for it, anyways. It’s part of the job. When a cop shoots someone who is attacking them, they are not trained to fire warning shot, or to fire at the legs or knees or whatever… they are trained to “shoot to kill”. Again, it’s part of the job!
“Paid Administrative Leave” is one thing if the cop (or other civil servant) is out for a week or two, maybe a month if there are extenuating circumstances. But when you compare a police investigation of a “civilian” versus an investigation of a “fellow officer” (see the connection they instantly have?), the investigation into the civilian will be over and done with in no time, but the investigation into the cop will take MUCH longer. And why is this? It’s not like they are looking at anything different from any other investigation.
Heck, MOST investigations into police shootings can be resolved in a DAY (or less!). Did the officer follow departmental procedures? It’s a simple yes or no question… you look at the location of the shooter and the “target” (sorry, can’t think of a different term…). You look at the posture of the target (was he advancing on the cop or running away?). You look at whether or not the target had a weapon (or if the person POSSIBLY had one…).
Lots of questions… and when the local prosecutors get that information and say “justified”, then the cops should be able to call it justified as well. It’s not like they have to dig and look for MORE information… they’ve already done so.
“Paid Administrative Leave” is just a nonsense term for them (cops and civil servants) to take extended vacations on the taxpayer dime. This cop has already been cleared, so it is time to return him to work. And if he can’t handle having done his job, then perhaps he is in the wrong business.
To George: “In the end, the taxpayers will still have to foot the bill for the deputy to have an extended paid vacation…. he should be cleared and returned to the streets instead of sitting at home collecting a free paycheck.” Do you really think this is an extended vacation to this officer? He had to do one of the most difficult things in the law enforcement profession and that is to stop an aggressive subject with lethal force which resulted in the death. How about making sure everything was done correctly and making sure this officer is ready to get back on the streets. Because the moment he is back out there he is tasked with protecting the citizens and possibly having to do this again!
The only problem I can see with this whole thing is the way law enforcement takes so long to do investigations on their selves. If a “common civilian” had done the shooting, the investigation would have already been completed and the appropriate charges filed. However, a cop does something like this, and it is found “justified” by the DA’s office (which I agree with… it WAS justified), yet the cops own investigation will be dragging on for months on end…
In the end, the taxpayers will still have to foot the bill for the deputy to have an extended paid vacation…. he should be cleared and returned to the streets instead of sitting at home collecting a free paycheck.
Thanks once again Sharyn for taking the time to “get the rest of the story”. It is clear to me the offficer was left with no choice. Hopefully this clears up in anyone’s mind that the circumstances; although tragic, was a result of the individual who died. Clearly the officer was not “looking” for a reason to discharge his weapon.