Video from a Colorado Springs officer’s body-worn camera and additional information on a police shooting was released Wednesday.
In the early morning hours of March 13 officers responded to the 1000 block of North Foote Avenue on a report of a woman screaming and domestic violence, said Commander Tish Olszewski, in a Significant Event Briefing video.
“The video contains graphic descriptions and footage that may be disturbing to some individuals,” police said. “Viewer discretion is advised.”
The suspect, 52-year-old Jose Aponte, was hiding in an attic space cluttered with furniture, boxes and other items. Two officers ordered Aponte to “show your hands,” but Aponte did not comply. Instead, he picked up a large, dark plastic bag and hid himself and his hands behind it.
“You shot my dog,” Aponte said to the two officers. “I’m going to die too.”
On March 12, a CSPD officer fired one shot at Aponte’s dog, described by police as a large pit bull, when the dog attacked him, according to the briefing. Police were responding to a complaint about the dog and to serve an arrest warrant on Aponte, when the animal was fatally shot. They did not find Aponte during the March 12 incident.
A day later, as officers attempted to take Aponte into custody after he was found hiding, a Taser was deployed at the suspect, Olszewski said. Aponte then “pointed a metallic object” at the officers. One officer fired three shots, striking Aponte, who was treated on scene and taken to a hospital. A flashlight was found in the attic, the object Aponte pointed at officers.
Patrol Officer Pierre Gutierrez, who fired the shots, has been with the department for about a year. He is on administrative leave, per department policy, pending the outcome of the ongoing police shooting investigation by El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation will be presented to the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of criminal charges, if any.
Aponte has been charged with felony domestic violence, unrelated to the March 13 police shooting incident, Olszewski said. The investigation into the police shooting is ongoing.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
