Bodycam shows Glendale police shoot Matthew Rasmussen -fatality in Arizona officer body cam shooting

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Glendale, Arizona – On November 04, 2019, around 5:25 p.m., bodycam video shows Glendale police fatally shoot a man, identified as Matthew Rasmussen, 31, outside a Taco Bell restaurant near 43rd and Olive avenues. Rasmussen was apparently holding “at least twelve-inch-long metal forceps” according to police.

Witnesses say Rasmussen was clearly having some sort of mental episode and did not pose a clear threat to officers.

“He would not respond to officers. He was still acting erratic,” said Glendale Police Sgt. John Roth.

Glendale police say less-lethal options and mental health crisis teams were not available at the time, and due to Rasmussen's proximity to Taco Bell customers, they decided “to go hands-on.”

“Rasmussen started swinging at the officers with an object,” said Sgt. Roth. “Obviously they were in fear for their lives and they discharged their firearm.” Police say once the tackling officer realized Rasmussen had forceps and was fighting back, he “disengaged” and got out of the way. Rasmussen was shot “multiple times” while on the ground.

Court documents dated from July, 2019 show criminal charges in one case against Rasmussen were dropped because he wasn't competent and couldn't understand the court proceedings. He was sent to a mental health facility in Mesa and was said at the time to be a danger to himself and others. At some point, Rasmussen was released from the facility.