Emotional Testimony in Christian Patterson Trial

The Christian Patterson trial continued today as new witnesses took the stand--some of whom had direct contact with Deputy Kurt Wyman that fatal night.  Of those who took the stand, one was Investigator David Nowakowksi, a trained negotiator brought to the scene that night.  His testimony provided a lot of detail into what happened when Deputy Wyman was shot.

Investigator Nowakowski said he assured Patterson throughout the night that no one was going to hurt him, repeatedly asking him to put his gun down. Nowakowski spoke about the instructions he received that night, including being told when non-lethal weapons could be used on Patterson, "If he separated himself from the weapon or if placed the weapon all the way under his chin."

He says while Patterson mostly complied with officials, he wouldn't put his gun down and tried to test officials at certain points.  At one point, Nowakowski was asked to move one of the vehicles. What happened next --- was difficult for him to discuss:

"I put the vehicle in to park. That's when I heard do it now, do it now."

That was followed by two loud noises --- the use of non-lethals. Then he says, "There was just a tremendous bang, a loud, huge flash, the bang was just tremendous. I could feel it actually in my chest."

He says Patterson then shot toward his direction, so he shot back through the windshield. 

Nowakowski then got out of the car to go towards Wyman.

"I knew he wasn't going to survive," says Nowakowski, "so I went down, touched his leg, and told him I'm sorry.

 When Nowakowski and one of the other deputy's involved were asked if they were given a plan of action that night, they both responded no, something the defense seemed to harp on.

The defense also didn't understand why officials didn't try and wait it out until Patterson grew tired and gave up.  Nowakowski said having it dark out was beneficial for officials, and time was not on their side.