The Fairfax County Police Department has released two still images from the body camera of an officer who fired his gun on Tuesday (July 28) at a suspect he was pursuing, after the man allegedly attempted to disarm him.
The first image appears to depict a man in a bush — identified by police as Nehemia Fuentes Banegas, of Annandale — holding the officer’s gun. The second shows two utility knives on the ground.
The FCPD previously said its officers were called to a home in the 7000 block of Sutter Lane by Fuentes Banegas’s wife, who reported that he had used the knives on himself before fleeing into nearby woods off Americana Drive.
“As officers searched the area, Fuentes Banegas suddenly emerged from heavy brush, violently grabbed an officer’s firearm, and attempted to disarm him,” the FCPD said in a press release. “The officer discharged his firearm while a second officer simultaneously deployed his department-issued taser.”
Fuentes Banegas had a graze wound on his upper right shoulder and, after being medically cleared, was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
He has been charged with attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer, a class 6 felony.
FCPD Chief Kevin Davis had said at an initial briefing on Tuesday that he would also be charged with felony assault against a police officer, but it appears that separate charge has not been filed, as there’s no mention of it in the police press release or in Fairfax County General District or Circuit Court records.
Davis also said Fuentes Banegas could face charges in relation to the original domestic dispute that prompted the police response.
Complete video footage from the body camera will be released within 30 days, according to police.
The name of the officer, who was identified yesterday as a 12-year veteran of the FCPD’s K9 unit, will be released within 10 days. He has been placed on restricted duty status pending the results of the ongoing investigations.
The department’s Major Crimes Bureau is conducting the criminal investigation into the use of force, while the Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting an administrative investigation. Another investigation is being conducted by the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.
