VENTURA : Officer Shoots Man After Knife Threat

A Ventura police officer shot and critically wounded a drunk man who was threatening him with a knife early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Aaron Klemm, 21, of Ventura was hit with a single bullet in the upper stomach area and is in critical condition at Ventura County Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

Officer Colin Patrick, who shot Klemm, has been placed on administrative leave until an investigation is completed, said Capt. Randy Adams. Normally, the review of an officer-involved shooting lasts a few days, Adams said.

According to a Police Department statement, Klemm and his girlfriend went to a friend’s home Saturday evening and stayed until 3 a.m. Sunday. Klemm, who had reportedly been drinking heavily, began arguing with his girlfriend when they returned to his house at Imperial Ventura Family Estates, a mobile home park at 5067 Thille St., the statement said.

Klemm’s girlfriend--whose name was not released by police--told officers that Klemm became very belligerent and pushed her and her mother and then “went totally out of control,” the statement said.

Klemm then armed himself with two knives, and his girlfriend received a minor cut on her hand when she tried to take them away from him, the statement said. Klemm then began to slash at himself, inflicting minor cuts to his upper chest, the statement said. After he ran out the front door, his girlfriend called police.

When Officer Fred McGill and Patrick answered the call, they found Klemm at the entrance of the mobile home park and ordered him to drop the knives, the statement said.

“They were pretty good-sized,” McGill said. “They looked like large kitchen knives.”

Klemm allegedly advanced on the officers twice, and they asked him to drop the knives both times. According to the statement, “after the second advance, Officer Patrick, fearing for his life, fired one round from his revolver.” Klemm then dropped the knives and fell, the statement said.

Patrick has been a police officer for about eight months and has not been involved in any previous shooting incidents, Adams said.