Bodycam video shows man with machete being shot in Ventura County

Bodycam video showing an October encounter with a machete-wielding suspect in
Thousand Oaks’ Newbury Park area was released by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday.

Deputies were first dispatched to a domestic disturbance call involving a White male in his mid-40s at the Palm Garden Hotel on Ventu Park Road shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 24.

While en route, deputies learned that the man had allegedly used the machete to strike a truck and had entered a Ralphs grocery store.

Surveillance video of the shooting released by the Sheriff’s Department shows the man walking through the store’s sliding doors with the weapon in his hands as a customer backs away and positions a shopping cart between them.

Arriving deputies encountered the man outside the store, still armed with the machete, and he was not compliant with their commands, VCSO Sheriff James Fryhoff said in the video posted to YouTube.

A Taser was initially used in an effort to disable the suspect but was ineffective and the man ran into another business that had several employees and customers present.

“The suspect ran into the business holding the machete advancing towards an employee in a threatening manner and a deputy-involved shooting occurred,” Fryhoff said.

After the shooting, Fryhoff said the suspect threw the machete at the deputies but they then rendered aid until paramedics arrived.

The suspect, identified as 50-year-old Joseph Emans was then transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Investigators also learned that Emans allegedly used the machete to break a window during the earlier disturbance at the hotel and intentionally lit his vehicle on fire.

He also assaulted a man with the machete, causing a minor injury, after walking to a nearby 76 gas station, Fryhoff said.

“The victim fled and the suspect took possession of the victim’s vehicle” before Emans walked to the shopping center and confronted another man inside a vehicle in the parking lot, Fryhoff said.

He allegedly used the machete to strike that man’s vehicle before entering the Ralphs.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office charged Emans on Nov. 8 with six crimes including arson of property of another, vandalism over $400, attempted carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a peace officer and resist, obstruct, delay of a peace officer.

Bodycam video showing an October encounter with a machete-wielding suspect in Thousand Oaks’ Newbury Park area was released by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday. Deputies were first dispatched to a domestic disturbance call involving a White male in his mid-40s at the Palm Garden Hotel on Ventu Park Road shortly before 6:30 a.m. on […]