Log in

Glendale police release video of Nov. 4 officer-involved shooting

Posted 12/12/19

Glendale police is releasing video and photos of on an officer-involved shooting of a man who was wielding forceps in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Glendale police release video of Nov. 4 officer-involved shooting

Posted

Glendale police is releasing video and photos of on an officer-involved shooting of a man who was wielding forceps in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.

The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. Nov. 4 near 43rd and Olive avenues.

Glendale police said they received a call of a subject waving a sharp metal object – later determined to be a pair of 12-inch metal medical forceps – causing concern for people in the parking lot of a Taco Bell.

Officer Joshua Anderkin, a 4-year veteran of the Glendale Police Department, was the first officer on scene and observed Matthew Rasmussen standing in the parking lot with a cloth covering his face and the forceps over his head in a threatening manner.

In body-camera footage released by the department, Mr. Anderkin identifies himself as "Glendale PD" and tries to establish a rapport with Mr. Rasmussen while giving him multiple commands to drop the forceps.

However, police said Mr. Rasmussen did not comply with the commands, he was non-verbal, and was waving the sharp metal object around above his head.

As Mr. Anderkin tried to engage Mr. Rasmussen, a second officer arrived, and then a third. Police said the third officer first told the people inside the Taco Bell to evacuate, and then, seizing an opportunity, tried to disarm Mr. Rasmussen by tackling him.

As the officer moved forward to physically engage Mr. Rasmussen, he was unsuccessful in disarming him and a struggle ensued. Police said Mr. Rasmussen began violently swinging the forceps at the officers, trying to stab them. At that time, police said Mr. Anderkin fired three rounds, striking Mr. Rasmussen. No other officers fired during the incident.

First responders provided first aid to Mr. Rasmussen, who was transported to a hospital and was pronounced dead.

Glendale police is releasing body-worn and in-car camera footage from Mr. Anderkin and the first responding back-up officer, as well as photos taken of the metal medical forceps.