Report: Bellevue man killed by police had gun

10/14/2010
BLADE STAFF

BELLEVUE, Ohio — A local man who was shot and killed by Bellevue police last month had pointed a loaded gun at one of the officers, a report released this week states.

Patrolman Erik Lawson says in a statement released with the incident report that when he and Sgt. Jeff Matter approached James David, Sr., 60, on the man's porch, Mr. David “leapt from his chair and moved away from me toward the residence. The man abruptly stopped and turned back toward me and pointed a gun at me.” Both officers fired.

Officer Lawson said that before Sergeant Matter placed Mr. David's pistol in an evidence bag, he ejected a bullet from the chamber and removed the magazine.

Both officers have returned to work since the Sept. 22 incident but are assigned to nonpatrol duties.