Auburn police shoot at knife-wielding suspect during drug raid

Auburn, NY -- Auburn police fired two shots at a knife-wielding suspect during a drug raid Wednesday, said Lt. Shawn Butler. No bullets hit Charles Williams, 33, of 91 Fitch Ave., Auburn, authorities said. He immediately dropped the knife and complied with police orders to get on the floor, Butler said. Police had entered the lower apartment of 18...

Charles Williams

Jessica Willis

Auburn, NY -- Auburn police fired two shots at a knife-wielding suspect during a drug raid Wednesday, said Lt. Shawn Butler.

No bullets hit Charles Williams, 33, of 91 Fitch Ave., Auburn, authorities said.

He immediately dropped the knife and complied with police orders to get on the floor, Butler said.

Police had entered the lower apartment of 18 Nelson St. shortly after 8 p.m. when the confrontation occurred, Butler said. Protocol dictates that officers make their presence known when executing a search warrant.

Williams came around a corner from the kitchen holding a small folding knife in an aggressive manner, Butler said.

An unidentified officer fired two shots from a MP-5 rifle, which Butler described as a machine gun.

"We do not fire warning shots," Butler said. "That's not the way we're trained. The officer was in fear for his life, and his other officers."

After Williams dropped the knife, police searched the apartment. They recovered an undisclosed amount of cocaine, marijuana and money.

Williams was arrested with Jessica Willis, the resident of the apartment, Butler said.

Williams was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and menacing a police officer. From a previous arrest warrant, Williams also faces misdemeanor charges of menacing and harassment, police said. He has an extensive criminal history, including 19 total arrests and a felony conviction for attempted robbery in 1994 in which he served 15 years in state prison, police said.

Jessica Leigh Willis, 27, was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance, police said.

Auburn police's Emergency Response Team was assisted by the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force during the raid.