DA: Officer Justified In Shooting Man Holding A Knife
DENVER (CBS4)- Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey announced on Monday that a Denver Police officer was justified in the shooting death of a man who was holding a knife and refusing to comply with officers' instructions.
The DA's office also released surveillance video of that incident where Officer Michael Traudt made the split-second decision to to fire at Paul Castaway on July 12. The shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. that night in the 4500 block of Morrison Road near West Kentucky Avenue.
Castaway, 35, first ran from officer and then turned and advanced toward Officer Traudt and his partner while holding a large knife in his hand and at his own throat.
Officers had been looking for Castaway after his mother called 911 to report that her son held a knife to her throat.
"They ordered him to stop he approached both of the officers, got within a very dangerous distance and one of the officers fired several shots striking the individual," said Denver Police Chief Robert White said in July.
In a letter to White, the DA states the officer's use of deadly force was justified. The letter also provided information that Castaway was under the influence of drugs, suicidal and acting extremely violent when police tried to take him into custody. Castaway died at the hospital.
In the letter, the DA acknowledges that the suspect was holding the knife to his own throat, but continued to aggressively approach the officer while refusing to comply with his orders.
Castaway's mother was not seriously injured in the attack. She also was upset that officers shot her son because she claimed he was mentally ill and wasn't pointing the knife directly at police.
The shooting also prompted protests.
Karen Morfitt Joined the CBS4 team as a reporter in 2013. She covers a variety of stories in and around metro Denver. Follow her on Twitter @karenmorfitt or email her tips.
