A person who shot at a Vancouver Police patrol automobile whereas the officer was investigating a criticism of taking pictures in a residential advanced was sentenced to eight years in jail on Tuesday.
Joseph Andrew Ezetta, 50, of Vancouver pleaded responsible within the Clark County Superior Court docket to altering the fees of tried first diploma assault and reckless endangerment based mostly on the June 9, 2019 incident on the One Lake Place Residences.
The police had been known as to 5264 NE 121st Ave. at round 4 a.m. known as after a number of callers reported listening to gunshots. The primary officer to reach was driving his patrol automobile alongside the south aspect of the advanced when he heard a number of gunshots close by. In line with the affidavit, the officer drove out of the advanced to a safer location.
Officers gathering close by stated they noticed a suspicious man strolling out of the advanced and strolling in the direction of them.
They ordered the person who was later recognized as Ezetta to cease, however he ignored them. Officers bodily stopped Ezetta and located a 9mm pistol with him that felt heat, as if it had just lately been fired, the affidavit stated.
When Ezetta was arrested, an officer stated they heard somebody scream. Believing it might need come from Ezetta’s condo, they went in and located quite a few firearms, gun circumstances and ammunition within the open courtroom information.
Officers additionally discovered numerous 9mm shell casings on the sidewalks and stairwells resulting in his condo, in addition to bullet strikes and fragments on a tree, metallic submit, and concrete close to the doorway to the advanced – the place the officer was driving, so for the affidavit.
They then found that the officer’s automobile was hit by a bullet that struck the appropriate rear bumper, courtroom information say.
Police realized that Ezetta was arrested earlier that evening for driving underneath the affect of the Washington State Patrol and launched after processing, the affidavit stated.
On Tuesday, his protection lawyer Steve Thayer stated Ezetta – who served his nation and was as soon as a correctional officer in Clark County – had struggled with alcohol dependancy for years.
“He was out of his thoughts when this occurred. He was simply drunk, ”stated Thayer.
Thayer requested the decide to comply with the attorneys’ agreed sentencing suggestion of 96 months, which included a deadly weapon improve.
Ezetta apologized to the officer who didn’t seem in courtroom and stated he was prepared to alter his way of life to verify it would not occur once more.
“I feel unhappy is admittedly the one phrase that involves thoughts,” stated Choose Jennifer Snider of the state of affairs.
Ezetta’s ingesting issues sparked the incident, Snider stated, however no apology. She stated he was fortunate nobody was damage.
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