BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Court records show the man shot and killed by Bartlesville police during a domestic dispute had a protective order filed against him by the woman he reportedly assaulted.
“This was unreal surreal it was unbelievable,” Loren Rovensteine, the victim’s landlord said.
Neighbor, Joshua Carrie, agrees. He says is a father of two and says the incident was startling.
Carrie and Rovensteine put themselves in the middle of something they said they witnessed far too often.
That’s why they both were on the lookout last night when they said they sensed William Cole was out to harm their neighbor.
William Cole had pending felony charge of assault and battery. He was shot and killed in Bartlesville by police. pic.twitter.com/3ydpaQkw2O
— Cori Duke (@CoriDuke_KJRH) October 27, 2016
“I changed the locks on the house and thought we had it all cleared and we didn't know where he was, but she was all battered up and bruised pretty bad,” Rovenstiene said of his tenant.
“Basically we all watch each other's backs around here, and we all know what he's capable of, so the second we see [William Cole] we call the police because she said they had a protective order at one point,” Carrie said.
Court documents show the victim filed a protective order against Cole in March when she told the court he strangled her and threatened to kill her.
Sources close to the victim believe a domestic disturbance call on Edgewood Ave. Wednesday night pushed Cole over the edge.
They said he had already been at the victim's house once that day, but came back for more.
Carrie saw Cole storm across his lawn, and Rovensteine called police.
When police arrived, witnesses said Cole was angry.
“He barreled out the door and tackled her off the porch into the yard in front of both officers,” Carrie said.
Police reported that an officer deployed a Taser on the suspect, but witnesses said it had no effect.
“As he got up, he punched the number one officer that actually knocked on the door,” Carrie said. “He punched him in the mouth.”
Rovensteine said it is then he heard three shots, “Pow, pow, pow.”
Now, Cole is dead while the victim and the officer are recovering.
Neighbors still shudder at the thought of how things could've ended.
“He’s crazy and when he gets on drugs he's even crazier and he's invincible and we've seen him so many different things,” Carrie said.
After the altercation, however, Edgewood Avenue remains calm and residents are thankful.
“I know who saved her life, the eyes of all of us,” Rovensteine said. “God really cares."
Bartlesville police asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to lead the investigation.
They told 2 Works for You the officers involved in the incident are on paid administrative leave.
