KANSAS CITY-NORTH — Aaron M. Perez-Engel, 38, has been charged with first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action as a result of Perez-Engel’s actions on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 30 in the 5200 block of North Oak Trafficway. He is currently in the Clay County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond. His next court appearance will be Sept. 10.
Both charges are listed as felonies.
According to the Kansas City Police Department, department officers were called to a reported disturbance around 2:21 p.m. about an adult male armed with a large knife in the shopping center at the intersection of NE Englewood Road and North Oak Trafficway.
The individual left the scene prior to police arrival. A suspect description was provided to dispatch via police radio and broadcasted out to other patrol officers, including the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Six minutes later, a Clay County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the area of Northeast 50th Street and North Oak Trafficway and located the described suspect involved in the disturbance. The deputy attempted to contact the male subject. The male presented a large knife from within his waistband and began running northbound on North Oak Trafficway, according to the report.
A foot chase was initiated, and additional deputies were called to assist with apprehending the armed individual. The male suspect refused to comply with verbal commands and ran into a wooded area while being pursued by multiple Clay County Sheriff’s deputies. The male stopped and was given further verbal commands to drop the knife. The male subject charged at the deputies before coming to a stop again.
Deputies continued giving verbal commands for the male suspect to drop the knife and surrender. The male subject refused to comply and ran toward the deputies a second time while armed with a weapon.
At 2:33 p.m., two Clay County Sheriff’s deputies discharged their duty weapons, striking the adult male subject. Deputies on scene immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS responded and transported the male to an area hospital for medical treatment.
Perez-Engel went to the hospital, but was released. No deputies were injured during the incident.
