Officers told a man brandishing a “large meat cleaver” to drop the weapon multiple times in English and Cantonese before one of the officers shot the man in the leg after responding to a call last month, according to documents and video released Wednesday.
Wen Min Chen, 30, was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon to a peace officer after the March 13 incident in the 2800 block of South Throop Street of the Bridgeport neighborhood.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said Wednesday it was releasing documents, audio files and video from the incident that were originally prohibited by a court order that has since been rescinded.
“Again, COPA is committed to transparency and the timely release of all relevant materials in accordance with the city’s video release policy and remains committed to conducting fair and objective investigations in a timely and transparent manner,” the office said in a statement.
Officers responded at the time to the call about noon and were told by a woman her husband was in the backyard of a home with a large knife, police said at the time.
Cameras worn by the officers show from multiple perspectives as the police make their way into the home and clear rooms with Tasers drawn. When the officers and woman make their way to a living room, one of the cops opens a door to another room, where a shirtless man is seen standing and clutching what appears to be a cleaver, video shows. The officers, most seen carrying bright yellow Tasers, can been seen and heard shouting commands at the man.
According to the arrest report, one of the officers shot Chen in the upper thigh after multiple attempts with the Tasers failed to subdue him.
“OFFENDER EMERGED FROM BEDROOM WITH CLEAVER IN HAND CLOSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN OFFENDER AND VICTIMS (the officers), THEREFORE PLACING ALL VICTIMS IN IMMEDIATE APPREHENSION OF RECEIVING A BATTERY,” the report reads.
The man, later identified as Chen by police, then dropped the cleaver and fell to the floor.
Chen’s bail was set at $50,000 during a hearing in March. A spokesperson for the Cook County Jail said he is not currently in custody.
Attorney information for Chen was not immediately available.
