Seattle officer details shooting

Associated Press

SEATTLE — One of two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a black man during a traffic stop testified Friday that he feared for his life when the man grabbed his arm and put the car in gear.

"I just had a visual image of a car coming down the hill and T-boning us," officer Greg Neubert told an inquest jury.

Asked if shooting driver Aaron Roberts was the only option for his partner, officer Craig Price, Neubert replied, "I didn’t see any other alternative."

At the time, he said, he did not believe pepper spray would stop Roberts.

Both officers are white, and the shooting has drawn accusations of racism from some area residents and activists.

Roberts’ family contends Neubert forced his way into Roberts’ car and was roughing him up. They, and some citizen witnesses who have testified at the inquest, dispute the contention that Neubert was dragged or that either officer was in danger.

After Neubert’s testimony, the hearing was continued until Monday. Price is expected to testify early next week.

Neubert said the officers stopped Roberts on May 31 after he backed out across two lanes of traffic. Roberts abruptly pulled over, which Neubert said made him suspicious.

When he asked for Roberts’ registration and license, Roberts said he didn’t have them and instead offered an insurance card in his mother’s name, Neubert said.

The 37-year-old Roberts said the vehicle belonged to his girlfriend, Neubert said. That was his last statement, the officer said.

"His demeanor was very quiet. … He didn’t really look at me," he said.

He suspected Roberts was on drugs or alcohol. Neubert said he told Roberts — who had both feet on the brake — the exhaust was bothering him and asked him to turn off the car. Neubert said the remark was a signal to Price that something was wrong.

Roberts put car into park but did not turn off the engine, Neubert said. He had slowly been gathering assorted scraps of paper from the car, which he handed to Neubert.

Roberts then slowly put the car back in drive, said Neubert, who described himself as "a little over 200 (pounds) and 6-foot-4-ish."

"He reached out and grabbed my wrist in which the documents were in. … It actually pulled me off balance," he testified.

"The vehicle began to lurch forward."

Neubert tried several times to grab the shifter and put the car back in park. Roberts elbowed him in the head until he put out his hand to shield the blows, he said. Neubert was unable to reach his gun.

He noticed Price had entered the car on the passenger side. Both officers were yelling at Roberts to stop the car, and Price was yelling that he would shoot if Roberts did not stop, Neubert said.

Neubert said he also told Price to shoot several times.

Roberts then put the car into reverse, and it "immediately shot backward," Neubert said.

At this point, he said, Price had drawn his gun. Neubert said he saw Roberts reach toward his partner.

"A brief second or so later, I heard a shot."

The car drifted into a curb and stopped, and Neubert was thrown to the ground.

After the hearing, Roberts’ brother disputed Neubert’s testimony, calling him "well coached."

"The jury seems pretty smart and attentive," said Eric Roberts, 39, of Seattle. "They’re the only ones who’ll decide. We’ll just have to wait and see."

Neubert, a nine-year department veteran, suffered bruises and was hospitalized overnight. Price, on the force about 2 1/2years at the time, was treated for a bruised leg and released.

On Jan. 29, Roberts had walked away from a downtown work-release program, where he had been since December, making the transition from prison. He’d received a two-year term after he pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a handgun.

His girlfriend has said Roberts was planning to turn himself in, serve his time and start a new life in Atlanta. He had five children.

Neubert said he didn’t recognize Roberts and would have acted differently if he had known a warrant was out on him.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.