New details released about police shooting in Pocatello that left Idaho man dead

Authorities have released the name of the man killed by a police officer during an incident on Center Street in Pocatello on Friday.

Police Chief Roger Schei said at a press conference Sunday that the man was Matthew E. Planer, 52, of Pocatello.

Schei said officers were sent to an apartment complex at 729 East Center Street after dispatchers received a call about a verbal disturbance between a man and a woman. The woman who called dispatch said she answered the door and Planer was there. He took her phone, but she was able to take it back forcibly.

The man was described as acting erratically and was possibly intoxicated, Schei said. The woman did not see any weapons on him at the time.

Officers arrived at about 12:45 p.m. and interviewed the woman. Officers learned Planer lived in the building on the third floor.

The officers went to speak with Planer, and his behavior was described as erratic. After officers explained that he would be receiving a citation, Planer was asked if he would prefer to grab the citation at the police car or wait inside his apartment. He decided to wait inside the apartment, Schei said.

One officer stayed behind while the other officer went to the police cruiser to print the citation.

As Planer continued to pace around his apartment, the officer who stayed behind spoke with him, and Planer continued to act in an unpredictable manner, according to Schei.

Police said Planer then turned and picked up a medium-sized chef’s knife from the sink and raised it up. The officer and Planer were only a few feet from each other, and the officer fired one round from his service weapon into Planer’s chest.

Both officers attempted life-saving measures, Schei said.

The name of the officer has not been released. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting, with the Idaho Falls Police Department as the lead agency.

Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner said an autopsy is planned.