Thursday, March 28, 2024

NCW Special Investigation Unit releases report on Folden shooting

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The North Central Washington Investigation Unit has announced it has nearly completed the investigation into the July 27, 2017 officer involved shooting of Matt Folden at Albertson’s in Wenatchee. 

According to a Sept. 5 news release, the unit has been able to establish a timeline in the events leading up to and after the shooting, which resulted in the death of 31-year old Folden, formerly of Peshastin. 

“What we used to create the timeline, which will not be inclusive, the actual 911 call from the original reporting party, the RiverCom radio traffic, because all that stuff is time stamped, the dash cam video, Albertson’s video and eyewitness accounts,” said Chelan County Undersheriff Jason Mathews. 

At 10:05 p.m., someone called 911 to report there was “a guy screaming and yelling walking around with a knife” in the parking lot of the Albertson’s store on N. Miller in Wenatchee. The person making the report was a truck driver making a delivery to the Starbucks nearby. 

At 10:06 p.m., Wenatchee Police Officer Albert Gonzalez and other Wenatchee Police officers responded to Albertson’s. Gonzalez entered the parking lot two minutes later. He was the first officer on the scene. 

As Gonzalez drove through the parking lot, his in-car camera captured Folden walking in front of the patrol car toward the entrance to Albertson’s. Gonzalez parked his car near the Albertson’s entrance. 

Folden had already reached the west entrance, and was some 20-feet from Gonzalez’s driver side door. The report says the car was fully marked as a patrol car with emergency lights activated and with Gonzalez in full uniform. 

As Gonzalez got out of the car, surveillance video and eyewitness statements show Folden moved aggressively toward him. According to the report, Gonzalez loudly and clearly told Folden, “get on the ground, get on the ground, get on the ground” in rapid succession. 

Immediately following the commands, Gonzalez fired three shots from his 9mm pistol. Folden fell to the ground near the open driver’s side of the patrol car. At that time, several Wenatchee Police officers responded. 

“I would say it was very short from the time he arrived than when the shots were fired. It was a very short duration of time. It wasn’t immediate, but close to it,” Mathews said. “He clearly gives him commands. There is no doubt about that. In his statement, he said Folden was not responsive to the commands given. Between the Albertson’s video and eyewitness accounts, they all corroborated Officer Gonzalez’s statement that Mr. Folden was definitely the aggressor. He was moving toward Officer Gonzalez.”

Shortly thereafter, first aid was administered. The report said a tactical folding knife with a three-inch blade was found on the ground next to Folden. 

Folden was transported by ambulance to Central Washington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:20 p.m. He had been shot in the lower right abdomen, lower right chest and the right shoulder. 

Gonzalez gave a detailed statement to investigators, stating upon contact with Folden, he saw a knife in his right hand, held close to the center of his chest. Gonzalez said Folden immediately aggressively moved toward him with the knife extended. 

According to the report, Folden did not respond to any commands. After the shots were fired, Folden fell to the ground with the knife in hand, but dropped it after Gonzalez ordered him to. 

The report said four eyewitnesses and video from Albertson’s corroborated Gonzalez’s statement that Folden was the aggressor. The investigation is pending a small amount of documentation and lab results including toxicology and autopsy reports. 

Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. There could be potential culpability for the officer involved. 

“In any sort of homicide case, justifiable or not, the prosecutor makes the decision on that,” Mathews said. “We’ll wait until we get all the reports in, which includes toxicology, autopsy, WSP total station diagram and that state crime lab report from the evidence we submitted to them. Those are the major pending pieces we are waiting for. It could be another four weeks until we see that.”

Mathews said they are still reviewing the video evidence. As of yet, they have not located a clear shot of Folden holding the knife.  

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.

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