Authorities in Colorado released body cam footage on Thursday from a fatal shooting of a former sheriff’s deputy just outside of office headquarters this past October.
The footage, which shows the former deputy appearing to reach for a handgun that was on his lap as he sat in the driver’s seat of a car, appears to support the district attorney’s determination that the shooting was justified.
On the night of October 29, former Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Bidon parked in front of the exit to the employee parking lot.
In surveillance footage released this past week, a deputy noticed Bidon parked there, went to speak with him and saw he had a gun.
Bidon had drove his car toward the exit gate of the parking lot just outside of the sheriff’s office headquarters, according to Fox 31 TV.
He drove his small red Kia in reverse and blocked the employee exit, surveillance video shows.
Bidon opens the driver’s side door and stays inside.
When a sheriff’s deputy exits the lot, he is forced to wait until Bidon drives a few feet forward so that he is no longer blocking the way.
The deputy, Buddy Gillespie, noticed that Bidon had a ‘blank stare on his face’ and asked if he could help.
Bidon reportedly told Gillespie: ‘Yeah, I’m here for my orders.’
Gillespie then radioed for backup. He told his colleagues that Bidon was ‘having a mental episode.’
When Gillespie approached the driver’s side window, he noticed Bidon had a gun.
Two other sheriff’s deputies quickly arrived on the scene to help Gillespie. According to Fox 31 TV, one of the deputies recognized Bidon as a former deputy with whom he had worked.
The deputies described Bidon as having a ‘thousand-yard stare’.
What was most frightening for the deputies was that Bidon had a gun in his lap while his hands were on the steering wheel.
‘Don’t move one inch, I’m serious, ok?’ one of the deputies is heard telling Bidon as his hands are placed on the steering wheel.
The deputy is seen aiming a gun toward Bidon’s head.
‘He’s got a loaded pistol right in his lap,’ the deputy said.
When one of the other deputies reaches inside the car in an attempt to take the pistol, a struggle ensues.
‘Mark, what are you doing?’ one of the sheriff’s deputies says to Bidon.
‘Don’t, don’t, don’t. don’t, don’t … don’t, don’t!’ one of the deputies is heard yelling.