APD releases bodycam footage from SWAT incident when officer, suspect both shot

The Austin Police Department has released bodycam footage from an incident in which an officer and a suspect were shot during a welfare check in southeast Austin, which led to a SWAT stand-off.

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department has released bodycam footage from an incident in which an officer and a suspect were shot during a welfare check in southeast Austin, which led to a SWAT stand-off.

In addition to sharing the body camera video on its YouTube page, the department also identified the officers who fired at the suspect, 56-year-old Dwayne Brzozowski.

Detective Daniel Jackson was one of the officers and was also hurt. Detective Christopher Van Buren also fired his gun. Jackson has been with APD for eight years and 11 months, and Van Buren had worked there for 10 years and three months.

Both were placed on administrative leave, which is the department's protocol when officers fire their weapons while on duty. APD said it was conducting both a criminal investigation and an administrative investigation into what happened.

Timeline of what happened

7:58 p.m.

On Aug. 6, two APD detectives working patrol responded to a “check welfare” call on Channel Island Drive that came in at 6:55 p.m. The caller said he had not seen his neighbor for six to eight months and provided more details that indicated something could be wrong, according to APD.

That area is east of Interstate 35 and west of Onion Creek.

"We used to know he was there because he used to get Amazon or Uber Eats deliveries, but since the beginning of the year, probably February, was the last time I saw something," the caller said, adding he'd knocked on his door off and on, most recently that day to try to talk to him about the wasp nests in his home.

The department said when they arrived, the detectives noted the home seemed in disrepair, with an "abnormal vegetative growth" that appeared unmaintained for some time in the backyard.

"Some seriously tall grass," said one officer as they headed to check out the backyard. "I almost want to kick the front door, so I don't have to crawl through this grass."

8:58 p.m.

The detectives contacted their supervisor about the findings, and they were authorized to try to enter the home. The detectives knocked on the front door but did not receive a response, so they kicked in the door to check on the welfare of the resident.

The video showed the officers identified themselves as Austin Police before entering the residence. A man said, "What?" and they repeated the information.

"Are you in there?" Officer Jackson said, before noticing seconds later, "Whoa, whoa, gun."

Both detectives moved away from the home in opposite directions. APD said Brzozowski then came out with a gun, which Van Buren told him to drop.

The department said as the detectives took cover, Brzozowski began to shoot, and they shot back. Brzozowski hit a neighbor's front door, and the police car parked outside, APD said.

"Subject firing shotgun," someone said on the police radio.

9:01 p.m.

The video showed Jackson, who was hiding in a nearby open garage, being hit and saying over the police radio that he was shot and needed assistance. A K-9 Officer was able to find him in the garage and get him to safety.

Both officers shot back during the encounter, and according to APD, Brzozowski was injured in the process.

9:17 p.m.

The department said after that, Brzozowski went back into his home, and a SWAT call-out was initiated to assist at the scene.

11:57 p.m.

Eventually, Brzozowski left the home and surrendered to the police without further incident. He was treated once officers realized he was shot and taken to the hospital, where he is in stable condition as of Friday.

Brzozowski was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant, a first-degree felony, and two counts of deadly conduct, a third-degree felony.

Jackson was treated and released from the hospital.