Anchorage Police this week used less-than-lethal force to immobilize a man who brandished a BB gun at officers, months after a series of shooting deaths left the public questioning the department's use of lethal force.
Officers responded to the Spenard-area home of Rodney Casey Humphrey, 52, Monday afternoon, after receiving reports that Humphrey was threatening to shoot dogs, cats and babies.
When officers arrived, they found Humphrey brandishing what appeared to be a rifle. Despite the fact that family members had called dispatch to inform police that the weapon was a BB gun, APD spokeswoman Dani Myren said officers still had to proceed with caution.
"(Officers) don't know if that's accurate," she said. "They have to respond to the incident with information they had."
After Humphrey disregarded numerous commands to drop his weapon, officers fired three rounds of 40mm less-than-lethal foam projectiles, hitting Humphrey three times, causing him to drop the gun and begin to walk away. Officers then asked Humphrey to stop. He refused, so the officers immobilized him with a Taser.
Humphrey was taken into custody and taken to the Anchorage Jail, where he was arrested on a probation violation and new charges of resisting arrest.
Myren said the use of less-than-lethal force on Humphrey wasn't the result of any new police department policy, but rather a decision officers made on the scene. Although Humphrey brandished his weapon, he never pointed it directly at officers, Myren noted.
"Based on the circumstances at the time, officers deemed it appropriate (to use less-than-lethal force,) she said. "They were certainly prepared to use whatever force is necessary."
Officer Shaun Henry, the police department's less-than-lethal weapons instructor, said the smallest deviation in Humphrey's behavior could have led officers to respond differently.
"If person's action were different, it could have changed the entire event," he said.
The department has faced criticism over the use of force since last summer, when two Anchorage men were killed within days of each other after brandishing weapons -- including a stick and BB gun -- at officers. The incidents spurred the department and the Anchorage Assembly to push for more Tasers among police officers. Henry said there are about 120 Tasers in the hands of APD officers today – about a third of the force -- with more expected soon.
This year, two Anchorage men were killed by officers in separate incidents. All officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing by the state office of special prosecution and appeals.
Henry said there has been no directive to use more less-than-lethal force following the shootings. The less-than-lethal weapons are just another tool, no different than handcuffs, he said.
"None of these things, whether a Taser or pepper spray or whatever -- none of that stuff is 100 percent effective," Henry said. "We hope it will work in the (event) we have to use them."
"Fortunately, in this situation, they worked for everyone."
Contact Suzanna Caldwell at suzanna(at)alaskadispatch.com