By Chris Green
Rockford Register Star, Ill.
ROCKFORD, Ill. — Winnebago County sheriff’s police released graphic video footage Monday afternoon that showed Faustin Guetigo’s final moments before the 27-year-old was shot to death.
Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana narrated the 12-minute video, a compilation of body camera footage worn by deputies when they arrived at Guetigo’s Bellwort Drive home and audio of 911 calls made earlier in the day by Guetigo’s 20-year-old wife, Rose Ndoroum.
Ndoroum made one call late in the morning from a nearby Casey’s gas station and convenience store on South Mulford Road to report that her husband had battered her.
The deputy noticed the woman was bleeding from her lip, and at one point Ndoroum told the deputy her husband grabbed her by the neck and choked her.
When asked by the deputy, “Do you think he might kill you?”
Ndoroum replied, “Maybe. I don’t know.”
Carauna said the deputy determined that aggravated battery had occurred and that the deputy is mandated by state law to arrest the offender.
About 5:30 p.m., Ndoroum called authorities again, this time from a nearby residence to say that her husband had returned and broke her phone and took her car keys.
A deputy arrived at the residence and confronted Guetigo outside of the home. Guetigo is seen repeatedly pulling away from the deputy to avoid being arrested.
Ndoroum also is seen walking from the residence across the street to her home and trying to intervene between her husband and the deputy.
The video shows Guetigo continuing to resist arrest and walking into the backyard where the deputy can be heard saying: “I’m not going to kill you. I’m not going to hurt you. I do not want to hurt you. It’s a Taser. Don’t resist! Don’t resist!”
Ndoroum tried intervene once more, but Guetigo went inside the home and more deputies arrived on the scene.
Caruana said the woman gave a deputy a key to her residence and her permission to enter it.
The video then shows the deputies announcing their presence and instructing Guetigo to come out with his hands up. It then shows deputies inside and outside of the residence.
One deputy entered with the kitchen area with his Taser in his hands. Another deputy opened a door leading to a basement. Video shows Guetigo holding an object in his hand that authorities later said was a pipe.
The deputy who opened the basement door can be heard on the video saying “Drop it!” several times.
As the deputy gave his orders, the video shows he was backing up and fired multiple times before he was struck in the head by Guetigo and both men fell to the floor.
Guetigo was shot once more as he laid on the ground.
He continued to resist arrest before he was eventually subdued and deputies administered first aid.
A report of shots fired and a radio call of “officer down” triggered a response by officers from several surrounding police agencies.
Guetigo later died at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center. According to Caruana, the deputy was treated and referred to a specialist for follow up care.
Caruana said in the video that he released the footage in the interest of transparency and that, “It helps preserve the integrity of the incident.”
The shooting is being investigated by the Winnebago-Boone County Integrity Task Force, and their findings will be presented to the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The sheriff concluded the video by saying, “After the independent investigation and review, by policy, my office will conduct an administrative review to ensure the action of our deputies met the high standards of the policy and procedures of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.”
(c)2021 Rockford Register Star, Ill.