State Police: Man shot by Santa Fe police threatened officers with kitchen knife taken from restaurant

Gregory Hasman, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Apr. 25—An argument with a restaurant manager over the use of a bathroom led to Wednesday's officer-involved shooting in Santa Fe, according to New Mexico State Police, which is investigating the incident.

Santa Fe Deputy Chief Valdez said Wednesday night that Jermaine Garcia, 37, is charged with five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, two counts of attempting to commit armed robbery, aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property.

State Police spokesman Lt. Philip Vargas, in a news release issued Thursday night, said around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Santa Fe Police Department responded to a call about a man — later identified as Garcia — entering Cafe Castro in the 2800 block of Cerrillos Road.

After being denied use of the bathroom, he entered the kitchen, "armed himself with a large butcher-style knife" and got into a fight with the manager, Vargas said.

He said Garcia left the cafe and tried to carjack a vehicle in the parking lot. He then headed north on Cerrillos, where Santa Fe police officers tried to "engage" Garcia. He broke an officer's driver's side window with the knife.

According to State Police, several people came within feet of Garcia, who displayed the knife in an "aggressive fashion" at Harrison and Cerrillos roads.

Vargas said two officers used their Tasers and gave Garcia repeated verbal commands to drop the knife, but he refused and charged at one of the officers, who shot Garcia twice.

State Police said officers gave medical assistance to Garcia, who was taken to a local hospital.

No officers were injured, Vargas said.

The officers were placed on paid administrative leave, according to Santa Fe police.

Vargas said State Police will continue its investigation and turn over its findings to the district attorney's office for review.

"The New Mexico State Police does not determine whether an officer's actions were justified in these types of matters," Vargas said. "This determination rests solely with the district attorney's office."