The Whitman County Prosecutor’s Office will not charge 20-year-old WSU student John Bazan following what prosecutors described as an attempt to “induce the police to kill him.”
Bazan was booked into Whitman County Jail on March 27 following an encounter with the WSU Police at Global Scholars Hall, according to a Daily Evergreen article. Bazan was booked on suspicion of assault, resisting arrest, intimidation of a public servant and obstruction.
WSU Police first arrived at Global Scholars Hall responding to a call reporting a man with a knife. It was later determined that Bazan was describing himself as the one with the weapon, according to the Union-Bulletin.
WSU Police encountered Bazan on the fourth floor concealing his hands in his sweatshirt. He began to move toward the officers and did not show his hands, despite orders from the officers. One officer attempted to deploy a stun gun but it was ineffective.
Bazan quickly removed his hands from his sweatshirt, leading to WSU police officer Dillon Tiedeman-Mueller firing a shot at Bazan, which missed and was lodged into the hallway wall. Tiedeman-Mueller is currently on administrative leave.
Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy said after reviewing the footage and reading the suicide note Bazan wrote, the incident was an attempt to get the police to kill him, according to the Spokesman-Review.
“A misdemeanor conviction on his record will not protect the community, whereas Mr. Bazan getting treatment for his severe mental health issues will help the community in the future,” Tracy said.
Bazan has been released from jail and, as of last week, was staying at an inpatient mental health facility, according to the Spokesman-Review.
Tracy said Bazan was remorseful after he was taken into custody and regretted the incident. In addition, he said Tiedeman-Mueller did not know Bazan did not have a weapon when he fired.
