MIAMIA-GLOBE — A Phoenix man is dead after he was shot while charging at a Globe police officer with a large knife on New Year's Eve, according to the Globe Police Department.
Shortly after midnight on New Year's Eve, a Globe police officer identified as Justin Reynolds was conducting a field interview with a man in the Globe downtown business district when a second man "appeared from the shadows and immediately began advancing toward the officer."
Police say the second man, identified as 28-year-old Eric M. Tellez, was walking directly toward Officer Reynolds and was "clearly armed with a large kitchen knife that he held in a threatening manner as he advanced toward the officer."
Officer Reynolds reportedly drew his service weapon and pointed it at Tellez, giving Tellez verbal commands to drop the knife. According to a press statement released by the Globe Police Department, Tellez ignored Officer Reynolds' commands.
"The officer retreated away from the suspect by walking backwards while continually giving verbal commands for the armed suspect to stop and drop the knife," the Globe Police Department's press statement continued. "When the armed suspect came within five feet of the officer, the officer was forced to fire his weapon."
First aid was rendered to Tellez, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Per Globe Police Department policy, Officer Reynolds has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation into the shooting continues.
Reynolds has been a police officer for two years and has worked for the City of Globe for one year, the department noted.
