Affidavit: Man shot by police doesn't blame them

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Charges were formally filed Thursday morning against a former firefighter shot by police officers on March 18. According to the affidavit, he doesn't blame police for shooting him.

Police said they fired on the suspect, 42-year-old Eric Tendam, after Tendam allegedly threatened officers with a handgun. Officers were attempting to get Tendam to pull over after he was allegedly observed running a stop sign on a lawn mower.

Tendam has been charged with:

• Intimidation (drawing or using a deadly weapon), a class C felony
• 2 counts of resisting law enforcement, a class D felony
• Residential entry, alleging he knowingly or intentionally broke into and entered the residence of another, a class D felony
• Theft, a class D felony

The charges allege that Tendam stole the lawn mower tractor he was riding at the time of the incident from his parents' property. The affidavit states that Tendam's mother requested the police charge Tendam with theft.

The affidavit paints a picture of Tendam as a man who regrets his actions: "When asked what he thought he would accomplish by pointing a handgun at an officer, Tendam shook his head and said that it was the most stupid thing he has ever done and that it was just a spur of the moment act of frustration."

According to the affidavit, Tendam told officers that his mindset at the time was that he either wanted to be left alone by officers or shot, and that he didn't blame officers for shooting him.

This affidavit also states: "When asked why he pointed his handgun back at [Officer] Max while on the tractor, Tendam stated that he was frustrated, mad at the world, and didn't want to hear any b*llsh*t from the officer about driving a lawn mower down the street."

The affidavit provides more details on Tendam's alleged actions on the day of the shooting. It states that when an officer attempted to pull Tendam over, Tendam shouted to the officer that there was a bomb coming and that the officer needed to get out of town. 

According to a summary of a police interview with Tendam in the affidavit, Tendam told police he was on his way to buy cigarettes at the time of the incident, and continued after being asked to pull over because did not understand what the officer was telling him.

PDF: Affidavit of Probable Cause. Warning: includes coarse language