Man fatally shot at motel on Aurora had long criminal record

The man who was fatally shot by Seattle police at an Aurora Avenue motel earlier this week had long battled drugs and alcohol and had a lengthy criminal record, according to police, court documents and the state Department of Corrections.

Joseph Bernerd Hradec, 37, was killed in a confrontation with five officers early Wednesday morning after he moved toward them "unexpectedly, very quickly and armed with a very large knife," said Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz during a news conference Thursday.

Police believe Hradec, who has a criminal history that includes convictions for robbery, burglary and cocaine possession, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the shooting. Hradec was under supervision by the Department of Corrections (DOC).

"He did struggle with drugs and alcohol throughout our involvement with him and was arrested on multiple [parole] violations while he was under our supervision," said DOC spokesman Chad Lewis.

Hradec had been released from the King County Jail on Jan. 8 after serving 37 days for violations of his DOC supervision, according to Lewis.

Lewis said Hradec had been arrested last month by Seattle police for failing to report to his community-corrections officer, trespassing and leaving Snohomish County without permission.

He checked in with his community-corrections officer on the date of his release and was in compliance at the time of his death, Lewis said.

According to Seattle police, officers had been called out to Seal's Motel, 12035 Aurora Ave. N., on Tuesday after Hradec called 911 to report that he was suffering from an "anxiety attack." He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for mental-health treatment and released later that day.

Shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Seattle police were again called out to the Seal's Motel to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.

Police said that when officers arrived they heard a woman screaming for help.

According to police, Hradec initially refused to open the door for officers and when they tried to force their way in, he sprayed them with what police described as a "chemical irritant."

As they backed away from the door, officers could hear the woman in the background yelling and warning them that Hradec had a knife, according to Police Department spokesman Jeff Kappel.

Police said they do not know the nature of the relationship between Hradec and the 53-year-old woman, but it appeared she had been staying in the motel with him for several days.

Officers then knocked out a window in the room and were able to confirm that the man had a knife, police said.

According to Metz, officers shot the man several times with an electrical charge from a Taser dart gun, but he was not subdued.

Police returned to the door, forced it open, Tased the man another time and told him repeatedly to drop the knife.

Police said that an officer had just rescued the woman — who was uninjured — when Hradec moved toward the officers.

Five of the 11 officers on the scene responded by shooting at Hradec, police said. Eleven shots were fired, police said.

The officers who fired their weapons were identified by police as student Officer Nick Kartes, Officer Adam Beatty, Officer Timothy Jones, both on the force less than three years, Officer Jason Stolt, eight years on the force, and 12-year veteran Officer Sjon Steven. They have been placed on paid administrative leave.

Metz said each made an independent decision to fire based on the belief that they and their fellow officers were in imminent danger.

According to court documents, Hradec has been in and out of jail since 1991.

He served more than five years in prison after being convicted of robbery in Snohomish County Superior Court in 1996.

He has also been convicted of multiple misdemeanors in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Everett, Kittitas County and Chelan County, including theft, driving with a suspended license and hit-and-run driving, according to court documents.

Lewis said Hradec's family was supportive and cooperative with his community-corrections officer and together they were working to find Hradec a stable address.

He said over the years Hradec had struggled with addictions and had been arrested numerous times for parole violations that involved intoxicants.

Reached at his home in Snohomish on Thursday, Hradec's father declined to comment.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times staff reporters Sharon Pian Chan and Sara Jean Green contributed to this report.