Sacto 9-1-1

From Stan Oklobdzija:

The Folsom Police Department Friday released the names of the officers, as well as new details in the shooting death of Joseph Han, 23, on Easter morning last month.

Officer Paul Barber, 32, a seven-year veteran and Sgt. Ron Peterson, 57, a 27-year law-enforcement veteran, shot Han on April 12 in his house on the 100 block of Elkins Circle, Folsom Police said a the report on the shooting.

Folsom Police have concluded their criminal investigation of the incident and have sent the results to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, said Sgt. Rick Hillman, who heads the department's professional standards department. A separate administrative review of the shooting is expected to be completed next week, he said.

Hillman also gave a description of the chaotic seconds that led to Han's shooting, the first time the Folsom Police Department has given a public account of the incident.

He said police responded to the address at about 10:30 a.m. after a family friend, translating for Han's parents, requested officers come to help deal with him. The caller told police that Han had been hallucinating, hadn't eaten in several days and was locked in his bedroom with a pocket knife, Hillman said.

Because the family did not want to disturb him further, they requested officers meet them several houses away, Hillman said. After discussing the situation with them, Hillman said the family told officers to go inside and talk to Han.

Hillman said Peterson, Barber and another officer entered the house and went upstairs to Han's nine-foot by nine-foot bedroom.

"It was very cluttered," Hillman said. "There were clothes piled up with a narrow path (through them) leading to the bed and the couch."

An officer stepped into Han's room and saw Han sitting on the couch, Hillman said.

At that point, Han stood up, holding a knife, and told him to get out of his room or he'd "cut his throat," Hillman said.

Hillman described Han's weapon as a nine-inch folding knife with a 4.5-inch blade.

The officer drew his Taser stun gun and told Han to stop, Hillman said. When he didn't, he fired the Taser, which had no effect, he said.

Hillman said police weren't able to determine whether both of the Taser's prongs hit Han. If both prongs of a Taser don't hit a person, the charge cannot be delivered.

At this point, Officer Barber entered the room and fired his Taser, which was also ineffective, Hillman said. Han was still advancing on Barber, Hillman said, and as he and the other officer retreated, Barber fired his handgun at Han, apparently striking him.

Han slammed shut the door of his room, Hillman said. Sgt. Peterson, who'd been inspecting another room, ran into the hallway and pushed the door of Han"s room open.

Inside, he found Han sitting back on the couch, Hillman said. Peterson fired his Taser, and again Han was unaffected. Han advanced on Peterson with the knife in his hand, and when the two were within 36 inches of each other, Peterson fired his handgun, Hillman said.

Despite being shot twice, Han and Peterson started wrestling, Hillman said. Peterson grabbed Han's knife hand, and was punched in the mouth in the process, he said.

The officers eventually managed to get Han under control, Hillman said. A waiting ambulance rushed him to UC Davis Medical Center, but Han died, he said.

Like with the first officer, Hillman said Folsom Police would need to wait for a final coroner's report to see if both prongs of Barber's Taser hit Han. The final coroner's report, which is currently awaiting toxicology results, won't be available for several weeks at least, Sacramento County Coroner's officials said.

Hillman said all three officers involved in the incident were taken off administrative leave on Friday and have returned to work.

The Bee was unable to contact the family or a spokesman for comment.