A weeklong trial is set to start on Monday for a 38-year-old man charged in connection with the stabbing of a Cortez police officer on Valentine’s Day.
Shane French, 38, faces four counts of felony assault, five counts of resisting arrest and two counts for a crime of violence in connection to an incident at his North Texas Street home on Feb. 14.
French allegedly stabbed Cortez Police Department officer Casey Eubanks once on his left side.
The event marks the first felony case to be decided by a jury under District Attorney Will Furse’s administration. Elected in 2012,
Furse declined to comment on prosecuting his first felony trial, citing it would be unethical while the case was pending.
According to arguments heard during preliminary proceedings, French is expected to launch a Make My Day defense.
Public defenders said their client simply tried to defend himself and his family after three Cortez police officers “rushed” inside the home uninvited, assaulted his at-risk blind father and caused property damage while responding to a “possible disturbance call.”
Officers have admitted to electrocuting the suspect with a stun gun at least four times after he was placed in handcuffs.
Court records reveal Eubanks suffered a single small stab wound to his left side.
Police confiscated a 6-inch serrated knife and a 3¾-inch paring knife from the scene.
For live courtroom updates, follow @tcbCortez on Twitter.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com
