PANAMA CITY— The suspect in a July 1 officer-involved shooting has been identified and faces multiple charges after surviving the incident.
The Panama City Police Department issued a media release July 2 with little information, other than the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating. Later that day, the department released body-camera footage of the incident.
An arrest affidavit filed in the Bay County Clerk of Court identifies the suspect as 22-year-old Yjun Ezekiel Anderson.
The affidavit states that a PCPD officer attempted to pull Anderson over because his vehicle’s registration had expired, but that Anderson fled south on State Avenue from West 23rd Street.
The officer disengaged by turning off his emergency equipment and followed south onto State Avenue. The affidavit said Anderson control of the vehicle and crashed just north of 19th Street, near the Audubon Nature Preserve.
The video footage showed the officer stopped his vehicle just short of the crash scene, exited the patrol vehicle, and started telling Anderson to get on the ground.
When the officer began approaching Anderson, Anderson started running towards him with an object in his hand, according to the affidavit and the video.
The officer retreated backward and continued telling Anderson to get on the ground. Anderson continued toward the officer while saying, “You’re going to have to shoot me.”
Anderson was swinging the object in his hand while pursuing the officer. The affidavit said the officer believed the object to be a knife because of his observations and the low light conditions.
When the gap was closing between the two, the officer attempted to kick Anderson away to create distance, but ultimately fell. Anderson struck the officer several times while the officer was on the ground before the officer discharged his firearm, striking Anderson, according to the affidavit.
The object held by Anderson was later found to be a black piece of plastic molding from the wrecked car that was 12 inches long and tapered. The affidavit indicates that no controlled substances were seized during the arrest.
A bench warrant was executed on July 6. The Bay County Jail inmate lookup shows Anderson was booked into the facility on July 14.
His mugshot shows what appears to be the wound from the bullet near his collarbone on the upper left shoulder. He’s seen wearing what appears to be a suicide prevention smock.
Anderson is charged with aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence. He’s being held without bond because of a charge of violation of probation or community control.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Affidavit reveals suspect in Panama City officer-involved shooting
Reporting by Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
