Marty West

Deadly force

Police received a call at 11:30 a.m. from a woman at a home who feared a man in the home with a history of recent mental health issues might try to kill himself, police said. Marty West had previously been a captain in the Fresno PD. A veteran officer who knew West and a trainee responded. Through the window, the veteran could see West in a pool of blood on the floor and he tried to reassure him. Instead West stood up brandishing a 12-inch blade and charged them. The veteran fired his Taser, but one of the darts hit West's belt and did not stop him. West kept advancing and the trainee officer shot and killed him. The officers were cleared of any wrongdoing.