Thomas Samuel Pethtel Jr.

Deadly force

Thomas Samuel Pethtel Jr. was convicted of drug possession with intent to distribute and was ordered to wear a tracking device and stay with his sister pending sentencing. According to court documents, Pethtel removed the tracking device and went to a friend's house. A woman who lived there left and called police saying Pethtel was at her house acting paranoid and using drugs. She said he had a gun and had asked her to buy hollow point bullets. The West Virginia Special Response Team arrived and six officers entered through the back door. Sgt. Gerald Menendez threw a flash bang device. The officers entered a bedroom, and Pethtel dragged his girlfriend into an adjoining bathroom, then began kicking the wall next to the laundry area. Malcomb threw another flash bang behind the washer-dryer to force Pethtel out of the bathroom, but Pethtel managed to break through into the laundry area. Menendez shot Pethtel in the face through the hole in the wall. The officers kicked the bathroom door open, and Sgt. Charles Trader shot Pethtel a second time, killing him.