CCPD: Man fatally shot by police after striking officer with pipe
Tasers use failed to stop attack, police chief says
Officers responding to a possible mental health emergency call on Memorial Day had to resort to deadly force after the man “aggressively approached” officers and struck one of the officers in the head with a metal pipe, officials said at a press conference Monday.
Despite lifesaving measures, Yosef Bekermus, 31, died on scene, Cape Coral Police Department Chief Anthony Sizemore said.
Sizemore said Bekermus’ family called CCPD Monday morning to ask for a welfare check at his home on 1919 Southwest 2nd Terrace. They told police he was in “a manic state” and there was potential need for a Baker Act.
When officers arrived around 10:45 a.m., Sizemore said they were immediately met by Bekermus as he walked through his open garage door.
“Officers on the scene attempted to create distance and de-escalate the situation, however Mr. Bekermus brandished a metal pipe and aggressively approached our officers in an irate and aggressive manner,” Sizemore said.
After more attempts at de-escalation by the officers, two of the three deployed their Tasers.
“And they were rendered ineffective,” Sizemore said.
Bekermus then struck an officer with the metal pipe in the head, Sizemore said, causing a severe injury and laceration on the side of their head.
Still armed with the pipe, Bekermus raised the weapon over his head standing over the officer he had just struck on the ground in a motion to strike again, Sizemore said. The officer on the ground then opened fire, shooting Bekermus three times.
Officers began lifesaving measures, but the attempts were not successful.
“I personally viewed the body-worn camera footage from today’s incident, and I can tell you that our officers followed training and performed admirably under the most extreme circumstances,” Sizemore said. “Our officers were confronted with a violent individual, made every attempt to de-escalate the situation and not get into a violent encounter, but sometimes the actions of others render that not a successful measure.”
Sizemore said the officer struck with the pipe has been treated and released from the hospital and is currently on paid administrative leave, as is protocol when deadly force is used.
Sizemore stated there had been “numerous” encounters with Bekermus prior to this incident, including “violent encounters,” including a time where he attempted to take an officer’s gun, and that the department was familiar with the address when the call went out.
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