By Eric Stevick Herald Writer
MONROE — A Monroe-area man was carrying a carver knife with a blade more than 8 inches long when he was shot by a Snohomish County sheriff’s officer last week, according to documents released Tuesday.
Gerald A. Aney, 49, has been released from the hospital and was booked into the Snohomish County Jail on attempted assault and malicious mischief charges.
Three deputies who responded to a domestic disturbance March 26 estimated the suspect was within 15 feet of sheriff’s Sgt. Leslie VanderWel when she fired twice, according to court papers. Aney was hit in the stomach area.
The sergeant, a 25-year veteran of the force, had responded to a domestic disturbance in the 14900 block of 210th Street SE.
Around 10:40 p.m. deputies were approached by a woman who owns the home. She said her adult son was distraught and had been violent, Dalberg said.
She also told deputies that her son had left the home.
Moments later, the man emerged from the shadows armed with a knife, officials said.
VanderWel drew her firearm, began to back away and ordered Aney to “Drop it,’ ” according to court papers.
Aney allegedly ignored deputies’ commands and continued moving rapidly toward the sergeant.
A master patrol deputy on the scene said the suspect had a “deadhead straight stare and (was) walking at a fast pace and I just knew there was gonna be trouble,” according to court papers. The master patrol deputy said he fired an electronic stun gun about the same time the sergeant fired her firearm.
The third deputy estimated Aney was about 10 feet from the sergeant when she fired.
The suspect’s mother told investigators that Aney was angry for days and had been drinking heavily. That night he had been out of control, breaking things including a lamp. He’d also thrown a bowl of food against the living room wall, court papers said.
In previous days, he had punctured the ceiling with a knife and allegedly made threats against her, according to court papers.
Aney is under investigation for assault as well as malicious mischief related to a domestic violence report, Everett police Sgt. Ryan Dalberg said.
Aney was released from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Monday.
The sheriff’s sergeant remains on paid administrative leave while the Snohomish Multi-Agency Response Team investigates the circumstances of the shooting, Dalberg said. The response team investigates shootings and other serious injuries involving law enforcement officers.
Administrative leave is standard when an officer is involved in a shooting.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
