Patrolman Casey Eubanks testified this week that he suffered a half-inch long and a half-inch deep knife wound in the Valentine\u2019s Day confrontation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt a sharp burning on my left side,\u201d he testified on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Contrary to the officer\u2019s testimony, a defense photo submitted into evidence during cross-examination revealed that Eubanks injury was less than a quarter inch long.<\/p>\n
Testifying for nearly two hours, Eubanks said on direct examination that the puncture injury to his abdomen resulted as he grabbed the suspect in a \u201cbear hug,\u201d picked him up off his feet, and threw him to the ground. He added that the defendant, Shane French, 38, was screaming and flailing in an attempt to escape the grasp of three officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not immediately see the knives,\u201d said Eubanks.<\/p>\n
The weapons in question include a 6-inch filet knife and a smaller paring knife. Eubanks said he yelled, \u201cKnife, knife!\u201d after French had been taken down to the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember seeing both knives move around,\u201d said Eubanks, rotating his wrist for the jurors.<\/p>\n
Eubanks said he exited the North Texas Street residence to \u201cfrantically check\u201d himself for injury. He testified he was scared and upset.<\/p>\n
During a 10-minute police video of the incident, Eubanks repeatedly told other officers on the scene that he was OK.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m good,\u201d said Eubanks on the night in question. \u201cI\u2019m good guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the video ended, Eubanks said, \u201cI should have (expletive deleted) shot that (expletive deleted).\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked by the prosecution on direct examination why he made the statement, Eubanks said, \u201cIt was a release. A little bit of a vent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eubanks also said that he could have responded to the physical altercation with deadly force, admitting he never attempted to draw his firearm or stun gun.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. French did attack me with two knives,\u201d Eubanks testified.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you use deadly force?\u201d asked deputy district attorney Matt Margeson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not see the knives at the time,\u201d replied Eubanks.<\/p>\n
On cross-examination by public defender Amy R. Smith, Eubanks said he initially declined to seek medical attention for the \u201csmall laceration\u201d on his left \u201clove handle.\u201d He later drove himself to the emergency room after being advised by a superior officer.<\/p>\n
Eubanks also told Smith under oath that French didn\u2019t verbally threaten to harm or kill him or ever brandished the knives in a threatening manner. Instead, Eubanks confirmed that officers were the ones that made verbal threats and physically abused the suspect.<\/p>\n
Eubanks also testified that no blood was found on the knives, and that he was unaware if any forensics testing was ever done to check for his DNA on the knives.<\/p>\n