DENVER (KDVR) — A man who was allegedly threatening people with a machete on a bike path in Sheridan was shot dead by police on Thursday, the Sheridan Police Department said Friday.
SPD said it dispatched officers to the area of South Clay Street and North Drive at 6:15 p.m., after receiving several reports of a man walking along the Bear Creek Bike Path with a machete. Two of the callers further reported that they had been threatened with a machete, police said.
Responding officers found a man carrying a machete and confronted him, making “numerous” commands for him to drop the weapon, which he ignored, according to police.
SPD said the man, instead of dropping the machete, “continued to advance” on the officers, causing them to retreat while continuing to order the suspect to stop and drop the weapon.
Both officers ultimately deployed “less lethal devices” when the man continued to ignore their commands, according to police, who said this “proved ineffective,” and led to the officers firing their weapons “to subdue the suspect.”
The suspect was taken into custody and rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived, before being transported to Swedish Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The incident is being investigated by the 18th Judicial District Critical Response Team, according to SPD, which said the suspect will be identified by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
The officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, “as is protocol,” police said.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
